What is the origin of the word 'vegetable'?

Answer 1

there are a series of Latin words here - vegetablis , meaning 'growing or flourishing', vegetare 'to enliven' from vegetus meaning 'vigorous and active' also vegere meaning to 'be alive and active'. The Old French word Vegetable was adopted in the 14th Century to mean 'living and growing 'as a plant'. This French word was adopted into English as 'a plant cultivated for food, an edible herb or root'. However the most common words in the old European languages are derivatives of the word 'green' or 'growing' such as verdura in Spanish or even grontsager in Danish

Answer 2

15th century: late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin vegetabilis 'animating,' from Latin vegetare,from vegēre 'to enliven'.