occur

Where does the word "occur" come from? It comes from Latin occurrere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Occur’s story begins in Latin: occurrere meant “to run toward, to meet.” To run toward, to meet, from ob- (toward) and currere (to run). It reached English by 1500s as occur. Settled as the English word for happening or taking place. Today, occur means to happen, or to come to mind.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient occurrere "to run toward, to meet", to run toward, to meet, from ob- (toward) and currere (to run).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s occur "to happen or take place", settled as the English word for happening or taking place.