traduce

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

Traduce’s story begins in Latin: ducere meant “to lead.” To lead, combined with trans- (across). Within Latin, it grew into traducere by ancient. To lead across, to expose to shame, from trans- and ducere. It reached English by 1500s as traduce. Settled as the English word for speaking badly of someone falsely. Today, traduce means to speak falsely or maliciously about someone, damaging their reputation.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient ducere "to lead", to lead, combined with trans- (across).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient traducere "to lead across, to expose to shame", to lead across, to expose to shame, from trans- and ducere.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s traduce "to speak badly of someone falsely, to slander", settled as the English word for speaking badly of someone falsely.