Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “circumspect” come from?

Circumspect derives from Latin circumspecto, formed from Latin circum- meaning "around" and the root speḱ- meaning "to look" or "to observe," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European speḱ-.

circumspect (English): Carefully aware of all circumstances; considerate...

Definitions

  1. Carefully aware of all circumstances; considerate...

Ancestry of “circumspect”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcirconspectcircumspect, cautious, prudent
2Latincircumspectussurveyed, looked around or over
3Latincircumspiciō—
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 “circumspect”

  • circumspectly
  • circumspectness
  • uncircumspect
  • incircumspect
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- →