savant

Where does the word "savant" come from? It comes from Latin sapere, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1719).

Savant’s story begins in Latin: sapere meant “to taste; to be wise.” The verb of tasting, and by extension, discerning wisely. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as savoir. The present participle savant described someone knowing or learned. From there it passed into French as savant by 1600s. Used as a noun for a person of great learning. It reached English by 1719 as savant. Borrowed for a scholar eminent in scientific or scholarly research. Today, savant means a learned or knowledgeable person, especially an expert in a specific field.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient sapere "to taste; to be wise", the verb of tasting, and by extension, discerning wisely.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval savoir "to know; learned, knowing", the present participle savant described someone knowing or learned.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s savant "a learned man", used as a noun for a person of great learning.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1719 savant "a person of great learning", borrowed for a scholar eminent in scientific or scholarly research.