Where does “ActionScript” come from?

ActionScript is an English compound of action and script, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- meaning to drive or act.

ActionScript (English): A script written in this language

Definitions

  1. A script written in this language

Ancestry of “ActionScript”, step by step

ActionScript traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English action

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishactionSomething done, often so as to accomplish a...
2Middle EnglishacciounAn action; an act, behaviour or attribute
3Old Frenchaucionaction; act; deed
4Latināctiōaction; a doing or performing, behavior
5Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
6Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

via English script

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscriptA writing; a written document; Written...
2Middle Englishscritwriting; document; scroll
3Old Frenchescritpast participle of escrire; third-person singular...
4Latinscriptuswritten, having been written
5LatinscriboI write
6Proto-Italicskreiβōto carve
7Proto-Indo-Europeanskreybʰ-to write
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξEvery word from Latin -tiōEvery word from Latin dis-