Where does “capital” come from?
Capital derives from Latin capitalis, formed from Latin caput meaning head with the Latin suffix -alis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kauput-.
capital (English): Already-produced durable goods available for use...
Definitions
- Already-produced durable goods available for use...
Ancestry of “capital”, step by step
capital traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French capital
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | capital | capital money and wealth |
| 2 | Latin | capitālis | of the head or life |
| 3 | Latin | caput | head; headlike protuberance on an organ or body... |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | kaput | head |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | káput | head |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kap- | to seize, hold |
via Middle English capital
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | capital | — |