Etymology Map
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Visible

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means able to be seen

Where does the word "visible" come from? It comes from Latin visibilis, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
visibilis
Latin · ancient
"able to be seen"
from 'videre', to see
2
Stage 2 of 3
visible
Old French · medieval
"visible"
Latin 'visibilis' came from 'videre', to see; the sense 'publicly prominent' is from the 1950s
3
Stage 3 of 3
visible
English · 1300s
"seeable"
'invisible ink' dates from the 1600s
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Read the full story

Visible’s story begins in Latin: visibilis meant “able to be seen.” From 'videre', to see. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as visible. Latin 'visibilis' came from 'videre', to see; the sense 'publicly prominent' is from the 1950s. It reached English by 1300s as visible. 'invisible ink' dates from the 1600s. Today, visible means able to be seen.