Rest
/rɛst/noun
To cease activity or movement in order to relax, recover, or sleep.
Did you know?The verb “rest” entered English through French from Latin *restare*, whose literal parts mean “back” and “stand”—a linguistic picture of pausing by remaining in place.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*steh₂-
“To stand or remain in place”
Classical Latin
Latin
restāre
“To remain, stand back, or stop”
Medieval Latin
Latin
restare
“To stay behind or remain”
Old French
Old French
rester
“To remain, stay, or stop”
12th Century
Middle English
resten
“To rest, remain, or cease from labor”
Modern English
English
rest
“To relax, recover, or be inactive”