incorporate

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

Incorporate’s story begins in Latin: corpus meant “body.” Body, combined with in- (into). Within Latin, it grew into incorporare by ancient. To embody, to unite into one body, from in- and corpus. It reached English by 1400s as incorporate. Settled as the English word for including something as part of a whole, or forming a legal corporation. Today, incorporate means to include something as part of a whole, or to form a legally recognized company.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient corpus "body", body, combined with in- (into).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient incorporare "to embody, to unite into one body", to embody, to unite into one body, from in- and corpus.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s incorporate "to include something as part of a whole, or to form a legal corporation", settled as the English word for including something as part of a whole, or forming a legal corporation.