'survivor' originates from the Latin word 'supervivere', where 'super-' meant 'over' and 'vivere' meant 'to live'.

'supervivere' transformed into the Old French word 'survivre', and eventually became the modern English word 'survive' through Middle English.

Initially, it meant 'to live beyond or outlive', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'a person who continues to live after an event'.