incantation

Where does the word "incantation" come from? It comes from Latin canere, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Incantation’s story begins in Latin: canere meant “to sing.” To sing, combined with in- (upon). Within Latin, it grew into incantare by ancient. To sing a magic spell over, from in- and cantare. By ancient, Latin speakers had reshaped it into incantatio. A magical chant, a spell, from incantare. It reached English by 1400s as incantation. Settled as the English word for words spoken as a magic spell. Today, incantation means a series of words spoken as a magic spell, or a ritual chant.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient canere "to sing", to sing, combined with in- (upon).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient incantare "to sing a magic spell over", to sing a magic spell over, from in- and cantare.
3. Stage 3 · Latin · ancient incantatio "a magical chant, a spell", a magical chant, a spell, from incantare.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s incantation "a series of words spoken as a magic spell", settled as the English word for words spoken as a magic spell.