Where does “alum” come from?
Alum comes from Latin alumen, a mineral used in dyeing and tanning, derived from Proto-Indo-European h₂el-, meaning to grind or mill.
alum (English): An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form...
Definitions
- An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form...
Ancestry of “alum”, step by step
alum traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English alumnus
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | alumnus | A male pupil or student; A male graduate; A... |
| 2 | Latin | alumnus | Nourished, fostered, etc; Nursling, pupil; foster... |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | alomanos | — |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂el-o-mh₁no- | being nourished |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂el- | to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam |