Populate
/ˈpɒp.jʊ.leɪt/noun
To fill an area with people or inhabitants.
Did you know?Populate comes from Latin populatus, from populus meaning “people,” the same ancient root behind words tied to crowds, power, and public life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*peh₂-
“to protect, feed”
Latin
Latin
populus
“the people, a nation, a crowd”
Late Latin
Latin
populatus
“inhabited, peopled”
14th Century
English
populate
“to people or inhabit”
Modern English
English
populate
“to fill an area with inhabitants”
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