Etymology Map
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Lacuna

2 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means a gap or missing part

Where does the word "lacuna" come from? It comes from Latin lacuna, adopted directly into English (1660s).

1
Stage 1 of 2
lacuna
Latin · ancient
"pool, gap"
from 'lacus', lake
2
Stage 2 of 2
lacuna
English · 1660s
"gap in a text"
scholars use it for a missing section of manuscript
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Read the full story

Lacuna’s story begins in Latin: lacuna meant “pool, gap.” From 'lacus', lake. It reached English by 1660s as lacuna. Scholars use it for a missing section of manuscript. Today, lacuna means a gap or missing part.