Celebrate: The word 'celebrity' comes… | etymologist.ai
celebrate
/ˈsɛl.ɪ.bɹeɪt/·verb·15th century·Established
Origin
English 'celebrate' from Latin 'celebrāre' (to honor, to frequent), from 'celeber' (crowded, famous) — originally about places thronged with people.
Definition
To acknowledge a significant event or occasion with enjoyment and festivity; to honor or praise publicly.
The Full Story
Latin15th centurywell-attested
From Latin 'celebrare' (to frequent, to honor, to makefamous), from 'celeber' (frequented, famous, populous), from PIE *kwel- (to revolve, move around, frequent a place). 'Celeber' originally described a place thronged with people — a frequently visited, renowned site. Theverb 'celebrare' thus meant 'to throng' and then 'to solemnize, to observe
'celebrity' (a famous person, from 'celebritas' — renown) and French 'célébrité'. The PIE root *kwel- also produces 'wheel' via Proto-Germanic and 'telos' via Greek. The word entered English meaning 'to perform publicly' before acquiring its modern festive connotation by the 17th century. Key roots: celeber (Latin: "frequented, populous, famous").
celebrar(Spanish (to celebrate))célébrer(French (to celebrate))celebrare(Italian (to celebrate))celebrity(English cognate (fame, from Latin celebritas))celeber(Latin (frequented, famous — direct source))