adolescent

The story

1. Latin · derived fromadolescentem
2. Middle French · derived fromadolescent
3. Middle English · inherited fromadolescent
4. English todayadolescent

First attested ?1440, from Middle English adolescent, from Middle French adolescent or directly from Latin adolescentem, accusative form of adolescens, present participle of adolēscere (“to become adult, grow up”), from ad- (“to”) + alēscere (“to grow or become nourished”). The adjective first appeared in 1785.