isolate

Where does the word "isolate" come from? It comes from Latin insula, passing through Italian before entering English (1750s).

Isolate’s story begins in Latin: insula meant “an island.” The root of 'insular', 'insulate' and 'peninsula'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Italian as isola. Settled in Italian for an island. It reached English by 1750s as isolate. Coined from the Italian word for island for the act of setting something apart alone. Today, isolate means to set someone or something apart from others, alone or separate.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient insula "an island", the root of 'insular', 'insulate' and 'peninsula'.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · medieval isola "an island", settled in Italian for an island.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1750s isolate "to set something apart from others, alone", coined from the Italian word for island for the act of setting something apart alone.