plaudit

the word 'plaudit' originates from the latin verb plaudere, meaning 'to clap, to strike'. this verb gave rise to the latin past participle plausus, which evolved into the noun plausus meaning 'applause'. the direct ancestor of the english word is the latin third-person singular perfect indicative form plaudit, meaning 'he/she applauds', which was used in the theatrical cry "plaudite!" instructing the audience to applaud. entering english in the 17th century, the term shifted from a command for action to signify the expression of approval itself, moving from the literal act of clapping to a more abstract sense of commendation.

Structure: plaud (to clap, to strike) + it (noun suffix) plaud (from latin plaudere, meaning 'to clap, to strike, to applaud'); it (a noun-forming suffix from latin -itus, indicating an action or its result).