promote

Where does the word "promote" come from? It comes from Latin promovere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Promote’s story begins in Latin: promovere meant “to move forward.” To move forward, from pro- (forward) and movere (to move). It reached English by 1400s as promote. Settled as the English word for raising someone's rank, or supporting a cause. Today, promote means to raise someone to a higher rank, or to support and advertise something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient promovere "to move forward", to move forward, from pro- (forward) and movere (to move).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s promote "to raise someone's rank, or to support a cause or product", settled as the English word for raising someone's rank, or supporting a cause.