Etymology Explorer › English

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—
8Latinaperiō—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂epóoff, away
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂epó →