perambulate

Where does the word "perambulate" come from? It comes from Latin ambulare, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Perambulate’s story begins in Latin: ambulare meant “to walk.” To walk, combined with per- (through). Within Latin, it grew into perambulare by ancient. To walk through or over, from per- and ambulare. It reached English by 1500s as perambulate. Settled as the English word for walking through or around a place. Today, perambulate means to walk through or around a place, especially in a leisurely way.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ambulare "to walk", to walk, combined with per- (through).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient perambulare "to walk through or over", to walk through or over, from per- and ambulare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s perambulate "to walk through or around a place, especially for leisure", settled as the English word for walking through or around a place.