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Where does the word "extinct" come from? It comes from Latin exstinctus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
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Where does the word "extinct" come from? It comes from Latin exstinctus, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Extinct’s story begins in Latin: exstinctus meant “put out, quenched.” Past participle of 'exstinguere', to quench. It reached English by 1400s as extinct. Extinct species date from the 1760s. Today, extinct means having no living members.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient exstinctus "put out, quenched", past participle of 'exstinguere', to quench.
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s extinct "extinguished", extinct species date from the 1760s.