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Where does the word "transparent" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin transparere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
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Where does the word "transparent" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin transparere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).
Transparent’s story begins in Medieval Latin: transparere meant “to appear through.” To appear through, from trans- (through) and parere (to appear). It reached English by 1400s as transparent. Settled as the English word for something allowing light through, or easily understood. Today, transparent means allowing light to pass through so objects are visible, or easily understood and open.
- Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval transparere "to appear through", to appear through, from trans- (through) and parere (to appear).
- Stage 2 · English · 1400s transparent "allowing light through, or easily seen through and understood", settled as the English word for something allowing light through, or easily understood.