populate

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

Populate’s story begins in Latin: populus meant “the people.” The root of 'people', 'popular' and 'public'. Within Latin, it grew into populare by ancient. The root of 'people', 'popular' and 'public'. It reached English by 1500s as populate. Settled as the English word for filling a place with inhabitants. Today, populate means to fill a place with inhabitants, or to supply data to a system.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient populus "the people", the root of 'people', 'popular' and 'public'.
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient populare "to fill with people", the root of 'people', 'popular' and 'public'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s populate "to fill a place with inhabitants", settled as the English word for filling a place with inhabitants.