celebrity

The story

1. Latin · derived fromcelēbritās
2. Old French · derived fromcelebrite
3. Middle English · inherited fromcelebritē
4. English todaycelebrity

From Middle English celebritē, from Old French celebrite (compare French célébrité), from Latin celēbritās.

First known use, by meaning

• 17th–18th c. A rite or ceremony.
• from 17th c. Fame, renown; the state of being famous or talked-about.
• from 19th c. A person who has a high degree of recognition by the general population for his or her success or accomplishments; a famous person.