perceive

Where does the word "perceive" come from? It comes from Latin percipere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Perceive’s story begins in Latin: percipere meant “to grasp thoroughly, to understand.” To take thoroughly, to grasp mentally, from per- (thoroughly) and capere (to take). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as perceivre. Carried into French for becoming aware of something through the senses. It reached English by 1300s as perceive. Settled as the English word for becoming aware of something through senses or the mind. Today, perceive means to become aware of something through the senses, or to interpret it in a certain way.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient percipere "to grasp thoroughly, to understand", to take thoroughly, to grasp mentally, from per- (thoroughly) and capere (to take).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval perceivre "to become aware of through the senses", carried into French for becoming aware of something through the senses.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s perceive "to become aware of something through the senses or mind", settled as the English word for becoming aware of something through senses or the mind.