advertise Look up advertise at Dictionary.com
early 15c., "to take notice of," from M.Fr. advertiss-, prp. stem of a(d)vertir "to warn," from L. advertere "turn toward," from ad- "toward" + vertere "to turn" see versus). Sense shifted to "to give notice to others, warn" (late 15c.) by influence of advertisement. Original meaning remains in advert "to give attention to."