add
/æd/
verb
Origin
Latin
addere — to put to, join, attach
Overview
Meaning Now
- To join something to something else so as to increase the size, number, or amount.
- To put together two or more numbers or amounts to calculate their total.
Literal older meaning
to put to
Language path
Proto-Indo-European → Latin → English
Earliest form
adden
Earliest period
Middle English (c. 14th century)
Journey
The word entered English during the Middle English period, replacing or supplementing the Old English verb 'eacan' (the root of 'eke').
Evolution
- Proto-Indo-European
*ad-dhe-
“to put to”
Combination of *ad- (to) and *dhe- (to put, do)
- Latin
addere
“to add”
- Middle English
adden
“to join or sum”
Introduced via Anglo-Norman/Old French influence
Connections
Word parts
ad-
prefix
to, toward
-d
root
to put, to place
Related across languages
French
additionner
to add
Italian
addere
to add
Related words
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External references use DefinedTerm semantics.