1
Stage 1 of 4
nilak
Persian · ancient
"bluish"
bluish, from nil (indigo blue)
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Stage 2 of 4
lilak
Arabic · medieval
"the pale purple flowering shrub"
adapted from Persian describing the pale purple flowering shrub
3
Stage 3 of 4
lilac
French · 1600s
"the flowering shrub and its pale purple color"
carried into French for the flowering shrub and its color
4
Stage 4 of 4
lilac
English · 1620s
"a pale purple color, or the flowering shrub"
settled as the English word for the shrub and its pale purple color
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