Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “collective” come from?

Collective derives from Middle French collectif, from Latin collectivus, an adjective formed from colligo meaning to gather together, with the suffix -ivus denoting a tendency or quality.

collective (English): formed by gathering or collecting; gathered into...

Definitions

  1. formed by gathering or collecting; gathered into...

Ancestry of “collective”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchcollectif—
2Latincollectivuscollected or gathered together; syllogistic
3Latincollectusgathered, having been gathered, collected, having...
4Latincolligeresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
5Latincolligō—
6Latincom-allomorph of con-
7Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt—
14Germankitt—
15Old High Germankuti—
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
19Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “collective”

  • collectively
  • collectivity
  • collectivism
  • collectivist
  • collectivization
  • collectivistic
  • collectivize
  • collectiveness
  • noncollective
  • collectivistically
  • anticollectivist
  • anticollective
  • anticollectivism
  • noncollectivist
  • anarcho-collectivist
  • anarcho-collectivism
  • קולקטיבי
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →