Where does “ambivalence” come from?
Ambivalence derives from German Ambivalenz, which combines Latin ambi- (both) and valeo (to be strong), tracing ultimately to Proto-Indo-European h₂en- (to be).
ambivalence (English): The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings...
Definitions
- The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings...
Ancestry of “ambivalence”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | Ambivalenz | ambivalence |
| 2 | Spanish | ambivalencia | — |
| 3 | Latin | ambi- | ambi- |
| 4 | Latin | ambō | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂m̥bʰi | around, on either side of, about; in exchange... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂n̥tbʰi | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |
Words derived from “ambivalence”