'annunciate' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'annuntiare', where the prefix 'ad-' (later assimilated to 'an-') meant 'to/toward' and 'nuntiare' meant 'to announce' (related to 'nuntius' meaning 'messenger').

'annunciate' changed from Medieval Latin 'annuntiare' into Old/Middle French and Late Latin forms and eventually entered Middle English, developing into the modern English 'annunciate'.

Initially, it meant 'to bring or report news', and over time it evolved into its current senses of 'to announce' and 'to pronounce clearly', with additional specialized religious use (as in 'the Annunciation').