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Intrude

2 stages from Medieval Latin to English.

Today it means to put oneself where unwelcome

Where does the word "intrude" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin intrudere, adopted directly into English (1400s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
intrudere
Medieval Latin · medieval
"to thrust in"
'in-' plus 'trudere', to thrust
2
Stage 2 of 2
intrude
English · 1400s
"to thrust in"
computer 'intruders' date from the 1980s
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Read the full story

Intrude’s story begins in Medieval Latin: intrudere meant “to thrust in.” 'in-' plus 'trudere', to thrust. It reached English by 1400s as intrude. Computer 'intruders' date from the 1980s. Today, intrude means to put oneself where unwelcome.