hallucinate

Where does the word "hallucinate" come from? It comes from Latin hallucinari, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Hallucinate’s story begins in Latin: hallucinari meant “to wander in mind.” Possibly from Greek 'alyein', to be distraught. It reached English by 1600s as hallucinate. Psychiatric 'hallucinations' date from the 1800s. Today, hallucinate means to experience something that isn't there.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient hallucinari "to wander in mind", possibly from Greek 'alyein', to be distraught.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s hallucinate "to be deceived", psychiatric 'hallucinations' date from the 1800s.