reduce

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

Reduce’s story begins in Latin: reducere meant “to lead back, to bring back.” To lead back, to bring back, from re- (back) and ducere (to lead). It reached English by 1400s as reduce. Settled as the English word for making something smaller in size or amount. Today, reduce means to make something smaller in size, amount, or degree.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient reducere "to lead back, to bring back", to lead back, to bring back, from re- (back) and ducere (to lead).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s reduce "to make something smaller in size, amount, or degree", settled as the English word for making something smaller in size or amount.