Peritus
/ˈpɛr.ɪ.tʊs/noun
Skilled through experience; expert or proficient.
Did you know?Latin *peritus* is tied to *perīrī*, “to try, test, experience,” so the original idea of expertise was not theory but proof gained through ordeal.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*per-
“to try, risk, cross, go through”
Latin
Latin
perīrī
“to attempt, test, experience”
Latin
Latin
peritus
“tried, experienced, skilled”
Late Latin
Latin
perītia
“experience, skill, expertise”
Old French
Old French
expert
“experienced, skilled”
Modern English
English
expert
“a person with special skill or knowledge”
Explore more surprising origins