revolve

Where does the word "revolve" come from? It comes from Latin volvere, passing through Latin before entering English (1400s).

Revolve’s story begins in Latin: volvere meant “to roll, to turn.” To roll, to turn, combined with re- (back). Within Latin, it grew into revolvere by ancient. To roll back, to turn over, from re- and volvere. It reached English by 1400s as revolve. Settled as the English word for turning around a central point. Today, revolve means to move in a circular path around a central point.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient volvere "to roll, to turn", to roll, to turn, combined with re- (back).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient revolvere "to roll back, to turn over", to roll back, to turn over, from re- and volvere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s revolve "to turn around a central point", settled as the English word for turning around a central point.