Relevant
/ˈrɛl.ə.vənt/noun
Closely connected or applicable to the matter at hand.
Did you know?“Relevant” comes from Latin *relevāns*, the present participle of *relevāre*, meaning “to lighten, raise up,” so its oldest sense is about making something less heavy—not more important.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
relevāre
“to raise again, lighten, alleviate”
Late Latin
Latin
relevāns
“lightening, alleviating; later, bearing on a matter”
Old French
Old French
relevan(t)
“bearing upon, pertinent”
14th–15th Century
English
relevaunt
“pertinent, applicable”
Modern English
English
relevant
“closely connected with the subject or situation”