Where does “overture” come from?

Overture comes from Middle English overture, from Middle French overture, from Old French overture, derived from the Old French suffix -ure added to Latin apertus, meaning open.

overture (English): An opening; a recess or chamber; Disclosure;...

Definitions

  1. An opening; a recess or chamber; Disclosure;...

Ancestry of “overture”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishoverture—
2Middle Frenchoverture—
3Old Frenchoverturean opening
4Old Frenchovertpast participle of ovrir
5Old Frenchovrirto open
6Vulgar Latinoperire—
7Latinaperīre—
8Latinaperiōto uncover, make or lay bare, reveal, clear
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂epóoff, away
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂epó →Every word from Latin aperiō →Every word from Latin aperīre →