The story
American English, from Latin ēventu(s) (“an event, happening”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), perhaps modeled after actuate.
First known use, by meaning
- from 18th c. To have a given result; to turn out (well, badly etc.); to result in.
- from 19th c. To happen as a result; to come about.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.