Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “abort” come from?

Abort comes from Latin abortus, past participle of aborior, composed of the prefix ab- and the root aborior, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European h₃er-.

abort (English): A miscarriage; an untimely birth; an abortion;...

Definitions

  1. A miscarriage; an untimely birth; an abortion;...

Ancestry of “abort”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinabortuspremature delivery, miscarriage, abortion; an...
2LatinaboriorI disappear, pass away, set; I miscarry, am...
3Latinab-from, away, away from; off; at a distance
4Latināb—
5Proto-Germanic*ab—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanapó—

Words derived from “abort”

  • ab
  • aborted
  • postabortal
  • abortal
  • aborter
  • abortable
  • abbed
  • abortment
  • abortogenic
  • nonaborted
  • unaborted
  • abortorium
  • preabortal
  • abortient
  • abortation
  • unabort
  • abortee
  • abortar
  • abortigar
  • abort
Every word from Proto-Indo-European apó →