renaissance

Where does the word "renaissance" come from? It comes from Latin nasci, passing through French before entering English (1800s).

Renaissance’s story begins in Latin: nasci meant “to be born.” By 1800s, the word had taken hold in French as renaissance. Literally "rebirth", applied to the revival of classical art and learning. It reached English by 1800s as renaissance. Jules Michelet (1855) and Jacob Burckhardt (1860) established it as the name of the historical period. Today, renaissance means a revival of art, culture, and learning, especially the European movement after the Middle Ages.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient nasci "to be born", meaning "to be born".
2. Stage 2 · French · 1800s renaissance "rebirth", literally "rebirth", applied to the revival of classical art and learning.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1800s renaissance "a revival or rebirth of culture and learning", Jules Michelet (1855) and Jacob Burckhardt (1860) established it as the name of the historical period.