Where does “alumnus” come from?
Alumnus comes from Latin alumnus, from Proto-Italic alomanos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el-o-mh₁no-, ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-European root h₂el- meaning to nourish.
alumnus (English): A male pupil or student; A male graduate; A...
Definitions
- A male pupil or student; A male graduate; A...
Ancestry of “alumnus”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | alumnus | Nourished, fostered, etc; Nursling, pupil; foster... |
| 2 | Proto-Italic | alomanos | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂el-o-mh₁no- | being nourished |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂el- | to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam |