History quiz

What is the origin of word hiatus?

The word "hiatus" comes from the Latin word "hiare," which means "to gape" or "to open wide." In Latin, the word "hiatus" was used to refer to a gap or break in a text, such as a missing word or a space between two words. The word was also used to refer to a pause or break in speech.

The word "hiatus" was first used in English in the 16th century. It was originally used in the same sense as in Latin, to refer to a gap or break in a text or speech. However, over time, the word "hiatus" came to be used more broadly to refer to any kind of break or interruption. For example, the word "hiatus" can be used to refer to a break in a person's career or education, or to a break in the continuity of a story.