Etymology Map
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Visit

3 stages from Latin to English.

Today it means to go to see someone or somewhere

Where does the word "visit" come from? It comes from Latin visitare, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
visitare
Latin · ancient
"to go to see"
a frequentative of 'visere', to look at
2
Stage 2 of 3
visiter
Old French · medieval
"to visit"
used for bishops inspecting parishes
3
Stage 3 of 3
visit
English · 1200s
"to go to see"
originally God's 'visitation' of blessing or punishment
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Read the full story

Visit’s story begins in Latin: visitare meant “to go to see.” A frequentative of 'visere', to look at. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as visiter. Used for bishops inspecting parishes. It reached English by 1200s as visit. Originally God's 'visitation' of blessing or punishment. Today, visit means to go to see someone or somewhere.