succeed

Where does the word "succeed" come from? It comes from Latin succedere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Succeed’s story begins in Latin: succedere meant “to come after.” To go or come after, from sub- (under, after) and cedere (to go). It reached English by 1400s as succeed. Settled as the English word for achieving a goal, or coming after another in sequence. Today, succeed means to achieve a desired result, or to take over a role after another person.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient succedere "to come after", to go or come after, from sub- (under, after) and cedere (to go).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s succeed "to achieve a desired goal, or to follow after another", settled as the English word for achieving a goal, or coming after another in sequence.