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Where does the word "omnibus" come from? It comes from Latin omnibus, passing through French before entering English (1829).
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Where does the word "omnibus" come from? It comes from Latin omnibus, passing through French before entering English (1829).
Omnibus’s story begins in Latin: omnibus meant “for everyone.” Dative plural of 'omnis', all. By 1820s, the word had taken hold in French as omnibus. A public carriage service in Nantes, possibly named after a shop called Omnès. It reached English by 1829 as omnibus. Shortened to 'bus' within a few years. Today, omnibus means a volume collecting several works; old term for a bus.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient omnibus "for everyone", dative plural of 'omnis', all.
- Stage 2 · French · 1820s omnibus "public vehicle", a public carriage service in Nantes, possibly named after a shop called Omnès.
- Stage 3 · English · 1829 omnibus "a bus; a collection", shortened to 'bus' within a few years.