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Today it means

propel

to drive or push something forward

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Where does the word "propel" come from? It comes from Latin propellere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

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Where does the word "propel" come from? It comes from Latin propellere, and was adopted directly into English (1500s).

Propel’s story begins in Latin: propellere meant “to drive forward.” To drive forward, from pro- (forward) and pellere (to drive). It reached English by 1500s as propel. Settled as the English word for driving something forward. Today, propel means to drive or push something forward.

  1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient propellere "to drive forward", to drive forward, from pro- (forward) and pellere (to drive).
  2. Stage 2 · English · 1500s propel "to drive or push something forward", settled as the English word for driving something forward.

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