infatuate etymology

Etymology:

  • Latin: infatuatus ("foolish, stupid")
  • Past participle of the verb infatuare ("to make foolish")
  • From in- ("not") + *fatuus ("foolish")

Meaning:

  • To instill a foolish or excessive admiration or desire
  • To captivate or charm someone intensely

Origin:

The word "infatuate" first appeared in English in the 16th century. It was initially used to refer to someone who was stupid or foolish. However, over time, its meaning evolved to describe someone who was deeply attracted to another person.

The original Latin root fatuus ("foolish") comes from the Proto-Indo-European root bʰā-, which means "to speak." This root is also the origin of the words "fool," "baffle," and "blither."

The prefix in- in infatuus negates the meaning of the root, giving it the sense of "not foolish" or "sane." However, the word eventually came to be used ironically to describe someone who was overly foolish or irrational.

In the 19th century, "infatuate" began to be used specifically to describe a strong and often irrational attraction to another person. This meaning is still the most common usage of the word today.

infatuate relate terms

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