Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cancellation” come from?

Cancellation derives from Middle English cancellen, from Old French -ation and Latin -atio, ultimately from Latin cancelli meaning lattice or grating, by extension referring to crossed lines used to void documents.

cancellation (English): The act, process, or result of cancelling; as,...

Definitions

  1. The act, process, or result of cancelling; as,...

Ancestry of “cancellation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincancellātiō—
2Latin-tiō—
3Latindissertātiō—
4Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
5Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
6Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
7Latincalceusshoe
8Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
9Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “cancellation”

  • precancellation
  • noncancellation
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →