Definition of the word permeate

The word "permeate" derives from the Latin verb "permære" which means "to go through." The prefix "per-" in the Latin verb indicates that something is going through another object or substance. In English, the word "permeate" first appeared in the mid-16th century with the meaning of "soak thoroughly." The scientific usage of the word "permeate" came about in the late 19th century when researchers investigated the properties of gases and liquids. They discovered that certain substances could pass through the walls of other substances, a phenomenon that they termed "permeation." The modern scientific definition of "permeate" is "to spread or diffuse through a substance or material," which highlights the idea that the substance being referred to is passing through a barrier or medium.