Where does “backward compatibility” come from?
backward compatibility (English) comes from English compatibility, from English compatible, from Middle English compatible, from Anglo-Norman compatible, from Medieval Latin compatibilis, from Late Latin compator, from Latin com-, from Latin con- — whale, sea monster; abyss.
backward compatibility (English): Capability of interoperating with older systems
Definitions
- Capability of interoperating with older systems
Ancestry of “backward compatibility”, step by step
backward compatibility traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English compatibility
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | compatibility | The state of being compatible; in which two or... |
| 2 | English | compatible | Capable of easy interaction; Able to get along... |
| 3 | Middle English | compatible | compatible; reconcilable |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | compatible | — |
| 5 | Medieval Latin | compatibilis | in "compatible beneficium", a benefice which... |
| 6 | Late Latin | compator | — |
| 7 | Latin | com- | allomorph of con- |
| 8 | Latin | con- | Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing... |
| 9 | Latin | cum | with, along with; at; -fold |
| 10 | Old Latin | com | Alternative form of cum |
| 11 | Proto-Italic | kom | with, along, at |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱóm | beside, near, by, with |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱe | Deictic particle, here; Post-positional... |
| 14 | Middle English | kyt | — |
| 15 | Russian | кит | whale; genitive plural of ки́та |
| 16 | Old Church Slavonic | китъ | whale |
| 17 | Ancient Greek | κῆτος | whale, sea monster; abyss |
via English backward
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | backward | In the direction towards the back; In the... |
| 2 | Middle English | bakwarde | — |
| 3 | English | -ward | Forming adverbs denoting course or direction to,... |
| 4 | Old English | -weard | Forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wardaz | turned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |