Semble
/ˈsɛm.bəl/noun
To seem or appear to be the case; chiefly archaic or legal.
Did you know?In legal writing, “semble” traditionally introduces a judge’s provisional view—an official signal that something appears true, but is not decisively established.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sem-
“One; together; the same”
Classical Latin
Latin
similis
“Like, resembling, similar”
Late Latin
Latin
similāre
“To make similar; to represent or imitate”
12th Century
Old French
sembler
“To seem, appear, or resemble”
14th Century
Anglo-French
sembler
“To seem; to appear, especially in legal language”
Modern English
English
semble
“To seem or appear, now mainly archaic or legal”
Explore more surprising origins