Where does “publicity” come from?
Publicity comes from French publicité, from Medieval Latin publicitatem, from Latin publicitas, derived from publicus meaning public, ultimately from populus meaning people.
publicity (English): Advertising or other activity designed to rouse...
Definitions
- Advertising or other activity designed to rouse...
Ancestry of “publicity”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | publicité | publicity, advertising; commercial, advertisement |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | publicitatem | accusative singular of pūblicitās |
| 3 | Latin | pūblicus | of or belonging to the people, state, or community |
| 4 | Old Latin | poplicus | Alternative form of publicus |
| 5 | Latin | pōpulus | a people, nation |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | poplos | army |