relevant

Where does the word "relevant" come from? It comes from Latin levis, passing through Latin before entering English (1550s).

Relevant’s story begins in Latin: levis meant “light, not heavy.” Light, not heavy, giving rise to relevare (to lift up again). Within Latin, it grew into relevare by ancient. To lift up again, to be pertinent, from re- and levis. It reached English by 1550s as relevant. Settled as the English word for something closely connected to the matter at hand. Today, relevant means closely connected or appropriate to the matter being considered.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient levis "light, not heavy", light, not heavy, giving rise to relevare (to lift up again).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient relevare "to lift up again, to be pertinent", to lift up again, to be pertinent, from re- and levis.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1550s relevant "closely connected to the matter at hand", settled as the English word for something closely connected to the matter at hand.