relate

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

Relate’s story begins in Latin: referre meant “to bring back, to recount.” To bring back, to recount, from re- (back) and ferre (to carry), with irregular past participle relatus. It reached English by 1400s as relate. Settled as the English word for recounting something or showing a connection. Today, relate means to show a connection between things, or to tell a story.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient referre "to bring back, to recount", to bring back, to recount, from re- (back) and ferre (to carry), with irregular past participle relatus.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s relate "to recount something, or to show a connection between things", settled as the English word for recounting something or showing a connection.