Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “circumference” come from?

Circumference comes from Latin circumferentia, formed from circum- "around" and ferre "to carry," deriving from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- meaning "to bear or carry."

circumference (English): The line that bounds a circle or other...

Definitions

  1. The line that bounds a circle or other...

Ancestry of “circumference”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincircumferentiacircumference
2Latincircumferenscircling; circulating
3LatincircumferoI carry, bear or move around or about; carry or...
4Latincircum-circum-
5Latincircumabout, around; in a circle, all around, on both...
6Latincircusa circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a...
7Ancient Greekκρίκοςring
8Proto-Indo-European(s)ḱer-dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth

Words derived from “circumference”

  • semicircumference
  • circumferenceless
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →