Definition of exclaim

The word "exclaim" derives from the Latin exclamare, which is composed of ex-, meaning "out" or "away," and ciamare, an ancient interrogative word meaning "what?" or "how?". The Latin verb exclamare meant "to call out, to cry out loudly," and was used mainly in the context of exclaiming a question. The word was adopted by the French in the 14th century, where it was spelled excrier and meant "to cry out, to shout." The French also developed the verb exclaimer, which meant "to express strongly" or "to exclaim." The English borrowed the French verb in the 16th century, when it entered the language as exclaime. Later, the English altered the spelling to its current form, "exclaim." The usage of the word changed as well, taking on the meaning of "to speak or write with strong emotion, as in expressing surprise, joy or anger." In summary, the word "exclaim" originated from Latin roots, where it initially meant "to call out a question," which evolved into a French verb meaning "to cry out" and eventually, in English, came to imply an emphatic or emotional expression.