revolve

The story

1. Latin · derived fromrevolvere“turn over, roll back, reflect upon”
2. Old French · derived fromrevolver“to reflect upon”
3. Middle English · inherited fromrevolven“to change direction”
4. English todayrevolve

From Middle English revolven (“to change direction”), borrowed from Old French revolver (“to reflect upon”), from Latin revolvere (“turn over, roll back, reflect upon”), from re- (“back”) + volvō (“roll”); see voluble, volve.

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. To bring back into a particular place or condition; to restore.
• from 16th c. To cause (something) to turn around a central point.
• from 17th c. To orbit a central point (especially of a celestial body).
• from 17th c. To rotate around an axis.
• from 17th c. To move in order or sequence.
• from 15th c. To ponder on; to reflect repeatedly upon; to consider all aspects of.
• 15th–19th c. To read through, to study (a book, author etc.).