insult

Where does the word "insult" come from? It comes from Latin salire, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Insult’s story begins in Latin: salire meant “to jump, to leap.” To jump, to leap, combined with in- (upon). Within Latin, it grew into insultare by ancient. To jump upon, to attack, to scorn, from in- and salire. It reached English by 1500s as insult. Settled as the English word for a disrespectful or scornful remark or action. Today, insult means a disrespectful, scornful remark or action, or to speak or act this way toward someone.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient salire "to jump, to leap", to jump, to leap, combined with in- (upon).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient insultare "to jump upon, to attack, to scorn", to jump upon, to attack, to scorn, from in- and salire.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s insult "a disrespectful or scornful remark or action", settled as the English word for a disrespectful or scornful remark or action.