recover

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

Recover’s story begins in Latin: recuperare meant “to get back.” The root of 'recuperate'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as recovrer. The root of 'recuperate'. It reached English by 1300s as recover. The sense 'regain health' dates from the 1300s. Today, recover means to return to health; to regain.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient recuperare "to get back", the root of 'recuperate'.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval recovrer "to regain", the root of 'recuperate'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s recover "to regain", the sense 'regain health' dates from the 1300s.