interrogate

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

Interrogate’s story begins in Latin: rogare meant “to ask.” To ask, combined with inter- (between, formally). Within Latin, it grew into interrogare by ancient. To ask formally, to question, from inter- and rogare. It reached English by 1400s as interrogate. Settled as the English word for questioning someone formally and thoroughly. Today, interrogate means to question someone closely and formally, especially to obtain information.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient rogare "to ask", to ask, combined with inter- (between, formally).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient interrogare "to ask formally, to question", to ask formally, to question, from inter- and rogare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s interrogate "to question someone formally and thoroughly", settled as the English word for questioning someone formally and thoroughly.