inflate

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

Inflate’s story begins in Latin: flare meant “to blow.” To blow, combined with in- (into). Within Latin, it grew into inflare by ancient. To blow into, to swell, from in- and flare. It reached English by 1400s as inflate. Settled as the English word for filling something with air or gas. Today, inflate means to fill something with air or gas, or to increase in size, price, or importance.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient flare "to blow", to blow, combined with in- (into).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient inflare "to blow into, to swell", to blow into, to swell, from in- and flare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s inflate "to fill something with air or gas", settled as the English word for filling something with air or gas.