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Where does the word "hiatus" come from? It comes from Latin hiatus, and was adopted directly into English (1560s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "hiatus" come from? It comes from Latin hiatus, and was adopted directly into English (1560s).
Hiatus’s story begins in Latin: hiatus meant “gaping, opening.” From 'hiare', to gape. It reached English by 1560s as hiatus. 'on hiatus' for a paused project dates from the 1900s. Today, hiatus means a pause or break.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient hiatus "gaping, opening", from 'hiare', to gape.
- Stage 2 · English · 1560s hiatus "gap", 'on hiatus' for a paused project dates from the 1900s.