Etymology

interpellate

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Today it means: To interrupt (someone) so as to inform or question (that person about something). Full definition →

Latin interpellātus
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The story

  1. Latin · borrowed frominterpellātus
  2. English todayinterpellate

First attested in 1599; borrowed from Latin interpellātus, perfect passive participle of interpellō, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French interpeller.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.