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Where does the word "rude" come from? It comes from Latin rudis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "rude" come from? It comes from Latin rudis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Rude’s story begins in Latin: rudis meant “unwrought, raw.” Used of rough, unpolished material. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as rude. Unrefined in manners. It reached English by 1300s as rude. 'rude awakening' dates from the 1800s. Today, rude means offensively impolite.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient rudis "unwrought, raw", used of rough, unpolished material.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval rude "coarse, ignorant", unrefined in manners.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s rude "rough", 'rude awakening' dates from the 1800s.