Where does “Republic” come from?
Republic (English) comes from Middle French république, from Latin republica, from Latin rēspublica, from Latin rēs, from Latin vindicatio, from Latin vindicō, from Latin vindex, from Latin dīcō — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.
Ancestry of “Republic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle French | république | — |
| 2 | Latin | republica | ablative singular of rēspublica |
| 3 | Latin | rēspublica | — |
| 4 | Latin | rēs | — |
| 5 | Latin | vindicatio | civil lawsuit; protection, defence; vindication;... |
| 6 | Latin | vindicō | — |
| 7 | Latin | vindex | claimant, vindicator |
| 8 | Latin | dīcō | — |
| 9 | Latin | -tiō | — |
| 10 | Latin | dissertātiō | — |
| 11 | Latin | dissertus | arranged, disposed; explained |
| 12 | Latin | disserere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 13 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 14 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 15 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 16 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |