legible

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

Legible’s story begins in Latin: legere meant “to read.” The root of 'lecture', 'legend' and 'lesson'. It reached English by 1400s as legible. Settled as the English word for writing that can be easily read. Today, legible means clear enough to be read easily.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient legere "to read", the root of 'lecture', 'legend' and 'lesson'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s legible "able to be read clearly", settled as the English word for writing that can be easily read.