mutation

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

Mutation’s story begins in Latin: mutare meant “to change.” The root of 'mutual', 'commute' and 'moult'. It reached English by 1400s as mutation. Settled as the biological word for a change in an organism's genetic material. Today, mutation means a change in the genetic material of an organism, or a change in general.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mutare "to change", the root of 'mutual', 'commute' and 'moult'.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s mutation "a change in an organism's genetic material", settled as the biological word for a change in an organism's genetic material.