invent

Where does the word "invent" come from? It comes from Latin invenire, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Invent’s story begins in Latin: invenire meant “to come upon, to find.” To come upon, to find, from in- (upon) and venire (to come). It reached English by 1400s as invent. Settled as the English word for creating something new. Today, invent means to create or design something that did not exist before.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient invenire "to come upon, to find", to come upon, to find, from in- (upon) and venire (to come).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s invent "to create or design something new", settled as the English word for creating something new.