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

  1. The coexistence of opposing attitudes or feelings...

Ancestry of “ambivalence”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1GermanAmbivalenzambivalence
2Spanishambivalenciaambivalence
3Latinambi-around, about
4Latinambōboth
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

Words derived from “ambivalence”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts →