susceptible

Where does the word "susceptible" come from? It comes from Latin suscipere, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1600s).

Susceptible’s story begins in Latin: suscipere meant “to take up, to undertake.” To take up, to undertake, from sub- (under) and capere (to take). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Medieval Latin as susceptibilis. Capable of receiving or being affected, from suscipere. It reached English by 1600s as susceptible. Settled as the English word for being easily affected or influenced by something. Today, susceptible means likely to be influenced, harmed, or affected by something.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient suscipere "to take up, to undertake", to take up, to undertake, from sub- (under) and capere (to take).
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval susceptibilis "capable of being affected", capable of receiving or being affected, from suscipere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s susceptible "easily affected or influenced by something", settled as the English word for being easily affected or influenced by something.