exposed
/ɪkˈspoʊzd/
adjective
Origin
Latin
exponere — to put out, set forth
Overview
Meaning Now
- Left unprotected or uncovered; vulnerable to the elements or to harm.
- Brought to light or made public; revealed.
- Subjected to a particular condition or influence, such as a risk or experience.
Literal older meaning
unfolded or laid out from
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
exposé
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term derives from the Latin 'exponere', which originally meant to put something out into the open, often used in legal or public contexts. By the time it entered English via French, it carried both the neutral sense of displaying something and the more ominous sense of abandoning someone to danger (as in 'exposing an infant').
Evolution
- Latin
exponere
“to place out, display”
- Old French
exposer
“to set forth, explain, or abandon”
- Middle English
exposen
“to put out or reveal”
- Modern English
exposed
“uncovered or vulnerable”
past participle used as adjective
Connections
Word parts
ex-
prefix
out
pos
root
to place
-ed
suffix
forming a participial adjective
Related across languages
French
exposé
uncovered or displayed
Spanish
expuesto
exposed or laid out
Explore next
Related to exposed
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.