Travel

/ˈtrævəl/ verb

Definition

To go from one place to another, especially over a long distance.

Etymology

From Old French *travaillier* “to toil, labor, suffer,” related to English *travail* “hard work or pain.” Travel used to imply difficulty and struggle, because journeys were once dangerous and exhausting.

Kelly Says

The word hints that traveling was originally more like surviving than vacationing. Every easy plane trip today sits on top of a history where going 100 miles could mean blisters, bandits, and broken wheels.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.