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Today it means

mental

relating to the mind

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

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

Mental’s story begins in Late Latin: mentalis meant “of the mind.” From 'mens', mind. It reached English by 1400s as mental. 'go mental' is 1920s British slang. Today, mental means relating to the mind.

  1. Stage 1 · Late Latin · ancient mentalis "of the mind", from 'mens', mind.
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s mental "of the mind", 'go mental' is 1920s British slang.

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