English
evolution
Evolution is borrowed from Latin ēvolūtiō ‘unrolling (of a book)’, from ēvolūtus, past participle of ēvolvō ‘to unroll’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvolvō‘to roll’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēvolvō‘to unroll, unfold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēvolūtus‘unrolled’perfect passive participle of ēvolvō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēvolūtiō‘unrolling (of a book)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1751evolution
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvolvō‘to roll’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēvolvō‘to unroll, unfold’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēvolūtus‘unrolled’perfect passive participle of ēvolvō
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEēvolūtiō‘unrolling (of a book)’
- Englishearliest quotation 1751evolution
Earliest quotation: 1751, Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […]: “Mean while, he never failed to be present, when…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *welH- ‘to turn, wind, round’
well, walk, wall, valve, vulgar, waltz, helix, divulge, vagrant, wale, gauche, vulgate, iliac, ilium, valvular, valise, 74 more
through Proto-Italic *wolwō
through Latin volvō ‘roll’
volume, involve, vault, revolt, vulva, revolve, voluminous, convoluted, devolve, voluble, convolution, involution, 43 more
through Latin ēvolvō ‘unroll, unfold’
Today it means
noun A manoeuvre of troops or ships.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin volvō / evolution