English
visible
Visible comes from Middle English visible, from Old French visible, from Late Latin visibilis ‘that may be seen’, from Latin videō ‘to see’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvideō‘to see’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEvisibilis‘that may be seen’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400visible
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1650same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvideō‘to see’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEvisibilis‘that may be seen’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400visible
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
- Englishearliest quotation 1650same form
Earliest quotation: 1650, Thomas Browne, Of the Cameleon: “It cannot be denied it [the chameleon] is (if…”
Linked words
through Latin vīdērunt ‘to see’
survey, visual, envy, visage, 1 more
through Late Latin visibilis ‘that may be seen’
Today it means
adj Able to be seen.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin videō / visible