gesture

Where does the word "gesture" come from? It comes from Latin gerere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Gesture’s story begins in Latin: gerere meant “to carry, to conduct oneself.” The root of 'digest', 'suggest' and 'register'. It reached English by 1400s as gesture. Narrowed from bodily conduct in general to a specific meaningful movement. Today, gesture means a movement of the body or hands used to express an idea or feeling.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gerere "to carry, to conduct oneself", the root of 'digest', 'suggest' and 'register'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s gesture "a movement of the body or hands to express an idea", narrowed from bodily conduct in general to a specific meaningful movement.