segregate

Where does the word "segregate" come from? It comes from Latin grex, passing through Latin before entering English (1500s).

Segregate’s story begins in Latin: grex meant “flock, herd.” Flock, herd, combined with se- (apart). Within Latin, it grew into segregare by ancient. To separate from the flock, from se- and grex. It reached English by 1500s as segregate. Settled as the English word for setting apart from the rest of a group. Today, segregate means to separate a person or group from the rest, often based on race or class.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient grex "flock, herd", flock, herd, combined with se- (apart).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient segregare "to separate from the flock", to separate from the flock, from se- and grex.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s segregate "to set apart from the rest of a group", settled as the English word for setting apart from the rest of a group.