Where does “cavernous” come from?
Cavernous comes from Latin cavernosus, derived from Latin caverna, which developed from Latin cavus meaning hollow, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European ḱewh₁-.
cavernous (English): Resembling a cavern; vast; Having many caverns;...
Definitions
- Resembling a cavern; vast; Having many caverns;...
Ancestry of “cavernous”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | caverneux | cavernous; sonorous |
| 2 | Latin | cavernosus | Full of hollows or cavities |
| 3 | Latin | caverna | cave, cavern, grotto; vault, chamber, cleft; hold |
| 4 | Italian | caverna | cave, cavern |
| 5 | French | caverne | cavern |
| 6 | English | cavern | A large cave; An underground chamber; To form a... |
| 7 | Middle English | caverne | cavern, cave |
| 8 | Middle French | caverne | cavern |
| 9 | Old French | caverne | — |