Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “circa” come from?

Circa comes from Latin circā, from Latin circum meaning "around," ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- and sek- meaning "to cut" or "to turn."

circa (English): Approximately, about, around

Definitions

  1. Approximately, about, around

Ancestry of “circa”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincircā—
2Latincircumabout, around; in a circle, all around, on both...
3Latincircusa circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a...
4Ancient Greekκρίκοςring
5Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

Words derived from “circa”

  • c.
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →