mobile

Where does the word "mobile" come from? It comes from Latin movere, passing through Latin and Old French before entering English (1400s).

Mobile’s story begins in Latin: movere meant “to move, to set in motion.” The root of 'motion', 'motor' and 'moment'. Within Latin, it grew into mobilis by ancient. Movable, from movere. From there it passed into Old French as mobile by medieval. Carried into French for something able to move or be moved. It reached English by 1400s as mobile. Settled as the English word for something able to move freely, or a portable phone. Today, mobile means able to move freely or easily, or a portable telephone.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient movere "to move, to set in motion", the root of 'motion', 'motor' and 'moment'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient mobilis "movable", movable, from movere.
3. Stage 3 · Old French · medieval mobile "able to move or be moved", carried into French for something able to move or be moved.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1400s mobile "able to move freely, or a portable telephone", settled as the English word for something able to move freely, or a portable phone.