Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “coerce” come from?

Coerce comes from Latin coercere, which derives from Latin arcere meaning to enclose or shut in.

coerce (English): To restrain by force, especially by law or...

Definitions

  1. To restrain by force, especially by law or...

Ancestry of “coerce”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincoerceō—
2Latinco-allomorph of con-
3Latincōn-—
4Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
5Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
6Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “coerce”

  • coercive
  • coercively
  • coercivity
  • noncoercive
  • coerciveness
  • coercer
  • noncoercively
  • coercible
  • incoercible
  • uncoercive
  • coercee
  • coercibility
  • anticoercive
  • uncoercively
  • semicoercive
  • cocoercive
  • uncoerciveness
  • hypocoercivity
  • hypocoercive
  • coercibleness
  • coercibly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →