transmute

Where does the word "transmute" come from? It comes from Latin mutare, passing through Latin before entering English (1300s).

Transmute’s story begins in Latin: mutare meant “to change.” To change, combined with trans- (across). Within Latin, it grew into transmutare by ancient. To change across, to transform completely, from trans- and mutare. It reached English by 1300s as transmute. Settled as the English word for changing something completely into a different form. Today, transmute means to change something completely in form, nature, or substance.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient mutare "to change", to change, combined with trans- (across).
2. Stage 2 · Latin · ancient transmutare "to change across, to transform completely", to change across, to transform completely, from trans- and mutare.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s transmute "to change something completely into a different form or substance", settled as the English word for changing something completely into a different form.