Where does “closeted” come from?
Closeted derives from Middle English -ed suffix added to Old English -od, from Old French -et diminutive suffix applied to Latin clausus, past participle of claudere meaning to close or shut.
closeted (English): Not open about one's sexual orientation, romantic...
Definitions
- Not open about one's sexual orientation, romantic...
Ancestry of “closeted”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | closet | Any private area, bowers in the open air; Any... |
| 2 | Middle English | closet | — |
| 3 | Old French | closet | small enclosed area, such as a field or a paddock |
| 4 | Old French | clos | enclosed outdoor area, such as a field or a... |
| 5 | Latin | clausus | closed, inaccessible; having been closed;... |
| 6 | Latin | claudere | present active infinitive of claudō;... |
| 7 | Latin | claudo | I shut, close, lock; I imprison, confine; I... |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | klaudō | close |