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Origin and history of rumor

rumor(n.)

"unsubstantiated report, gossip, hearsay;" also "tidings, news, a current report with or without foundation," late 14c., from Old French rumor "commotion, widespread noise or report" (Modern French rumeur), from Latin rumorem (nominative rumor) "noise, clamor; common talk, hearsay, popular opinion," which is related to ravus "hoarse" (from PIE *reu- "to bellow").

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Dutch rumoer, German Rumor are from French. The sense of "loud protest, clamor, outcry" also was borrowed in Middle English but is now archaic or poetic. Also compare rumorous "making a loud, confused sound" (1540s). Rumor-monger is by 1884 (earlier in that sense was rumorer, c. 1600). The figurative rumor mill is by 1887.

rumor(v.)

1590s, transitive, "spread a rumor; tell by way of report," from rumor (n.). Related: Rumored; rumoring.

also from 1590s

Entries linking to rumor

rumour

chiefly British English spelling of rumor; see -or. Related: Rumoured; rumouring.

    Trends of rumor

    adapted from books.google.com/ngrams/ with a 7-year moving average; ngrams are probably unreliable.

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    hearsay
    "information communicated by another, gossip," mid-15c., from phrase to hear say (Middle English heren seien, Old English herdon secgan). The notion is "hear (some people) say;" from hear (v.) + say (v.). As an adjective from 1570s. Hearsay evidence (1670s) is that which the witn
    fame
    13c., "character attributed to someone;" late 13c., "celebrity, renown," from Old French fame "fame, reputation, renown, rumor..." (12c.), from Latin fama "talk, rumor, report; reputation, public opinion; renown, good reputation," but also "ill-fame,...The goddess Fama was the personification of rumor in Roman mythology....
    grapevine
    Meaning "a rumor; a secret or unconventional method of spreading information" (1863) is from the use of grapevine telegraph...as "secret source of information and rumor" in the American Civil War; in reference to Southerners under northern occupation...
    defamatory
    to spread abroad by ill report, make a scandal of," from dis-, here probably suggestive of ruination, + fama "a report, rumor...
    Pericles
    far-famed," from peri "all around" (see peri-) + -kles "fame," a common ending in Greek proper names, related to kleos "rumor...
    gossip
    The sense was further extended 1811 to "trifling talk, groundless rumor."...
    Cleopatra
    The name is Latinized Greek, probably meaning "glory of her father," from kleos "rumor, report, news; good report, fame,...
    comment
    late 14c., "explanation, spoken or written remark," from Old French coment "commentary" or directly from Late Latin commentum "comment, interpretation," in classical Latin "invention, fabrication, fiction," neuter past participle of comminisci "to contrive, devise," from com-, he
    Easter
    Old English Easterdæg, "Easter day," from Eastre (Northumbrian Eostre), from Proto-Germanic *austron-, "dawn," also possibly the name of a goddess whose feast was celebrated in Eastermonað (the Anglo-Saxon month corresponding with April), from *aust- "east, toward the sunrise" (c
    mentor
    "wise adviser, intimate friend who also is a sage counselor," especially to one who is young or inexperienced, 1750, from Greek Mentor, in the Odyssey" the name of the friend of Odysseus and adviser of Telemachus (but often actually Athene appearing in disguise). The name perhaps
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    Dictionary entries near rumor