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Origin and history of segregation

segregation(n.)

1550s, "act of separating" (a sense now obsolete); 1610s, "act or action of segregating, separation from others," from Late Latin segregationem (nominative segregatio), noun of action from past-participle stem of segregare (see segregate). Meaning "state or condition of being segregated" is from 1660s. Specific U.S. sense of "enforced separation of races" is attested from 1883.

also from 1550s

Entries linking to segregation

segregate(v.)

1540s, "separate (someone or something) from a general body or class of things," from Latin segregatus, past participle of segregare "set apart, lay aside; isolate; divide," literally "separate from the flock," from *se gregare, from se "apart from" (see se-) + grege, ablative of grex "herd, flock" (from PIE root *ger- "to gather").

Originally often with reference to the religious notion of separating the flock of the godly from the sinners, later scientifically in reference to classifications. In modern social context, "to force or enforce racial separation and exclusion," by 1898. Intransitive sense of "separate, go apart" is by 1863. Related: Segregated; segregating.

desegregation(n.)

"the abolition of racial segregation," 1935, American English, from de- "the opposite of" + segregation in the racial sense.

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integration
1610s, "act of bringing together the parts of a whole," from French intégration and directly from Late Latin integrationem (nominative integratio) "renewal, restoration," noun of action from past participle stem of Latin integrare "make whole," also "renew, begin again" (see inte
apartheid
1947 (the policy was officially begun 1948), "segregation of European from non-European people in South Africa," from Afrikaans..."Segregation" is such an active word that it suggests someone is trying to segregate someone else....
Jim Crow
Association with segregation dates from 1841, in reference to separate railroad cars for blacks in Massachusetts....
separate
Separate but equal in reference to U.S. segregation policies on railroads, etc. is attested by 1890 (Henry W....
structure
mid-15c.; the sense might be "building materials" or "action or process of building or construction," either way it is obsolete. From 1610s as "that which is built, an edifice," especially if large or imposing. It is from Latin structura "a fitting together, adjustment; a buildin
meiosis
in biology, "division of a cell nucleus," 1905, from Greek meiosis "a lessening," from meioun "to lessen," from meion "less," from PIE root *mei- (2) "small." Earlier (1580s) it was a rhetorical term, a figure of speech "weak or negative expression used for a positive and forcibl
separation
c. 1400, separacioun, "a severing, detaching, cutting apart, act of removing or disconnecting one thing from another," from Old French separacion (Modern French séparation) and directly from Latin separationem (nominative separatio) noun of action from past-participle stem of sep
moot
early 12c., shortened from Old English gemot "meeting, formal assembly" (especially of freemen, to discuss community affairs or mete justice), "society, assembly, council," from Proto-Germanic *ga-motan (compare Old Low Frankish muot "encounter," Middle Dutch moet, Middle High Ge
cologne
"a distilled spirit blended with certain essential oils so as to give off a fragrant scent," by 1844, short for Cologne water (1814), loan-translation of French eau de Cologne (which also was used in English), literally "water from Cologne," from the city in Germany (German Köln,
proverb
c. 1300, in boke of Prouerbyys, the Old Testament work, from Old French proverbe (12c.) and directly from Latin proverbium "a common saying, old adage, maxim," literally "words put forward," from pro "forth" (from PIE root *per- (1) "forward") + verbum "word" (see verb). Hence, i

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