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Where does the word "insulate" come from? It comes from Latin insula, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "insulate" come from? It comes from Latin insula, and was adopted directly into English (1530s).
Insulate’s story begins in Latin: insula meant “island.” The root of 'peninsula'. It reached English by 1530s as insulate. Electrical 'insulation' dates from the 1700s. Today, insulate means to protect from heat or electricity.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient insula "island", the root of 'peninsula'.
- Stage 2 · English · 1530s insulate "to make into an island", electrical 'insulation' dates from the 1700s.