Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “capsule” come from?

Capsule comes from French capsule, from Latin capsula, a diminutive of capsa meaning box, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- meaning to grasp or contain.

capsule (English): A membranous envelope; A type of simple,...

Definitions

  1. A membranous envelope; A type of simple,...

Ancestry of “capsule”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcapsulécapsular
2Latincapsulasmall box or chest
3LatinCapsaGafsa
4Latincapiō—
5Proto-Italickapiōtake
6Proto-Italickapjōtake, seize
7Proto-Indo-Europeankh₂pyéti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂p-to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,...

Words derived from “capsule”

  • capsular
  • encapsulate
  • extracapsular
  • subcapsular
  • capsulitis
  • intracapsular
  • capsulotomy
  • pseudocapsule
  • capsuloligamentous
  • capsulectomy
  • microcapsule
  • decapsulation
  • encapsulator
  • pericapsular
  • capsulation
  • nanocapsule
  • capsuled
  • capsulate
  • capsulize
  • noncapsular
  • decapsulate
  • encapsule
  • encapsulization
  • acapsular
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- →