Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “capitalization” come from?

Capitalization derives from English capitalize, from English capital, from Latin capitalis meaning "of the head," from Latin capitalis, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kauput- or kapōlo meaning "head."

capitalization (English): American spelling and Oxford British English...

Definitions

  1. American spelling and Oxford British English...

Ancestry of “capitalization”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-ationAn action or process; The result of an action or...
2Middle English-aciounForms nouns denoting an action, act, or doing,...
3Old French-ation-ation
4Latin-ātiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “capitalization”

  • recapitalization
  • overcapitalization
  • undercapitalization
  • decapitalization
  • miscapitalization
  • uncapitalization
  • autocapitalization
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →