evolution
/ˌɛvəˈluːʃən/
noun
Origin
Latin
evolūtiō, ēvolūtiōnem — «unrolling, unfolding»
Overview
Meaning Now
- The process of gradual development or change over time.
- In biology, the change in inherited traits of populations across generations.
- The historical development of a species, idea, system, or institution.
Literal older meaning
«unfolding»
Language path
Latin → French → English
Earliest form
evolution
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The word entered English as a learned borrowing from Latin through French. In English, it first meant a kind of orderly unfolding or development, and only later became the central term in biology for descent with modification across generations.
Evolution
- Latin
evolūtiō / ēvolūtiō
“«unrolling, unfolding»”
From the verb ēvolvĕre, literally «to roll out» or «to unfold».
- Old French
evolution
“«unfolding, development»”
Passed into French learned vocabulary with abstract senses.
- Early Modern English
evolution
“«unfolding; orderly development»”
Used first in general intellectual and scientific prose.
- Modern English
evolution
“«gradual change over time; biological evolution»”
Biology later specialized the term for change in inherited populations.
Connections
Word parts
e-
prefix
«out, away»
volv
root
«roll»
-tion
suffix
«act, process, result»
Related across languages
French
évolution
évolution
Spanish
evolución
evolution
Italian
evoluzione
evolution
Portuguese
evolução
evolution
Explore next
Related to evolution
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.