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Where does the word "irrigate" come from? It comes from Latin irrigare, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
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Where does the word "irrigate" come from? It comes from Latin irrigare, and was adopted directly into English (1610s).
Irrigate’s story begins in Latin: irrigare meant “to water.” 'in-' plus 'rigare', to wet. It reached English by 1610s as irrigate. Medical irrigation of wounds dates from the 1800s. Today, irrigate means to supply water to land.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient irrigare "to water", 'in-' plus 'rigare', to wet.
- Stage 2 · English · 1610s irrigate "to water", medical irrigation of wounds dates from the 1800s.