entry
innovate
/ˈɪnəveɪt/introduce new ideas, methods, or changes
From Latin in- (into) + Latin novus (new).
from Latin innovātus, perfect passive participle of innovō (“to renew”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
from Latin innovātus, perfect passive participle of innovō (“to renew”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
Word Ancestry
from Latin innovātus, perfect passive participle of innovō (“to renew”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
from Latin innovātus, perfect passive participle of innovō (“to renew”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).
A Roman who innovābat was not necessarily inventing something from nothing; he was renewing it, giving an old arrangement a fresh coat of paint or a new set of hinges. The word arrived in English in the 1540s, from Latin innovātus, and at first it could simply mean “introduce as new.” Its in- is a small trap: here it points inward or toward change, rather than meaning “not,” while novus is the unmistakable Latin word for “new.” That same novus family gives English novel, novelty, novice, and renovate—the last one literally suggesting making something new again. By the 1590s, innovate had begun to describe changing established practices, so today every supposedly revolutionary app carries a Roman promise: take what exists, turn it toward the new, and hope nobody notices the old machinery underneath.
The Story
A Roman who innovābat was not necessarily inventing something from nothing; he was renewing it, giving an old arrangement a fresh coat of paint or a new set of hinges. The word arrived in English in the 1540s, from Latin innovātus, and at first it could simply mean “introduce as new.” Its in- is a small trap: here it points inward or toward change, rather than meaning “not,” while novus is the unmistakable Latin word for “new.” That same novus family gives English novel, novelty, novice, and renovate—the last one literally suggesting making something new again. By the 1590s, innovate had begun to describe changing established practices, so today every supposedly revolutionary app carries a Roman promise: take what exists, turn it toward the new, and hope nobody notices the old machinery underneath.
Modern Usage
To copy or appropriate someone’s idea, alter it slightly, and present it as one’s own.
Notable References
- Urban Dictionary entry describing Microsoft as an example of this usage
Kin & Kindred
From 'in-'·into, toward, or upon
Derived Terms
English words from this root
From 'novus'·new
Derived Terms
English words from this root