accomplish
/əˈkʌmplɪʃ/
verb
Origin
Latin
complere — to fill up, complete
Overview
Meaning Now
- To succeed in doing, achieving, or completing something.
- To carry out a task or duty fully.
Literal older meaning
To fill up entirely; to complete fully.
Language path
Latin → Old French → Middle English → English
Earliest form
acomplissen
Earliest period
14th century
Journey
Derived from the Latin 'ad-' (to) and 'complere' (to fill), the word originally emphasized the notion of bringing something to its full or finished state. By the time it entered Middle English via Old French, it carried the sense of completing a project or fulfilling a duty.
Evolution
- Latin
adcomplere
“to finish entirely”
- Old French
acomplir
“to finish, complete”
- Middle English
acompliss
“to finish or perform”
Connections
Word parts
ad-
prefix
to
complere
root
to fill
Related across languages
French
accomplir
to accomplish, to fulfill
Spanish
cumplir
to comply, to fulfill, to complete
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Related to accomplish
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.