Rumor
/ˈruː.mɚ/noun
A widely spread report of uncertain truth.
Did you know?Rumor comes through Old French and Latin from a root tied to noise and roaring, which is why the word originally felt less like “news” and more like a public murmur spreading through the air.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*reu-
“to roar, shout, or make a loud noise”
Latin
Latin
rumor
“noise, public report, common talk”
Old French
Old French
rumor
“report, rumor, hearsay”
Middle English
English
rumour
“a report or piece of gossip”
Modern English
English
rumor
“a report of uncertain truth”