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Where does the word "replenish" come from? It comes from Latin replere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "replenish" come from? It comes from Latin replere, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Replenish’s story begins in Latin: replere meant “to fill again.” To fill again, from re- (again) and plere (to fill). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as replenir. Carried into French for filling something up again completely. It reached English by 1300s as replenish. Settled as the English word for filling something up again. Today, replenish means to fill something up again, restoring it to its former level.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient replere "to fill again", to fill again, from re- (again) and plere (to fill).
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval replenir "to fill something up again completely", carried into French for filling something up again completely.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s replenish "to fill something up again", settled as the English word for filling something up again.