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Today it means

impact

a collision; a strong effect

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

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

Impact’s story begins in Latin: impactus meant “pushed against.” Past participle of 'impingere', to push against. It reached English by 1600s as impact. The figurative sense 'strong effect' dates from the 1800s. Today, impact means a collision; a strong effect.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient impactus "pushed against", past participle of 'impingere', to push against.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s impact "collision", the figurative sense 'strong effect' dates from the 1800s.

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