Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “artists” come from?

Artists derives from English artist, from French artiste, from Latin artista, from Latin ars meaning skill or craft, from Proto-Indo-European h₂er-.

artists (English): plural of artist

Definitions

  1. plural of artist

Ancestry of “artists”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishartistA person who creates art; A person who is skilled...
2Frenchartisteartist
3Latinartista—
4Latinarsart; skill, craft, handicraft, trade, power
5Proto-Italicartis—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂értisfitting
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂er-to fit, to fix, to put together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- →