fluctuate

Where does the word "fluctuate" come from? It comes from Latin fluere, passing through Latin before entering English (1600s).

Fluctuate’s story begins in Latin: fluere meant “to flow.” To flow, giving rise to fluctus (a wave). Within Latin, it grew into fluctuare by ancient. To wave, to undulate, from fluctus (wave). It reached English by 1600s as fluctuate. Settled as the English word for rising and falling irregularly. Today, fluctuate means to rise and fall irregularly in number, amount, or quality.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient fluere "to flow", to flow, giving rise to fluctus (a wave).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient fluctuare "to wave, to undulate", to wave, to undulate, from fluctus (wave).
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s fluctuate "to rise and fall irregularly in number or amount", settled as the English word for rising and falling irregularly.