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Where does the word "polar" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin polaris, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).
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Where does the word "polar" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin polaris, and was adopted directly into English (1550s).
Polar’s story begins in Medieval Latin: polaris meant “of the poles.” From 'polus', pole, from Greek 'polos', axis. It reached English by 1550s as polar. 'polar bear' dates from the 1780s. Today, polar means relating to the North or South Pole.
- Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval polaris "of the poles", from 'polus', pole, from Greek 'polos', axis.
- Stage 2 · English · 1550s polar "of the poles", 'polar bear' dates from the 1780s.