Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “commend” come from?

Commend comes from Middle English commenden, from Old French comender, from Latin commendo, formed from the prefix con- and manus meaning hand, literally to put into someone's hands.

commend (English): To congratulate or reward; To praise or acclaim;...

Definitions

  1. To congratulate or reward; To praise or acclaim;...

Ancestry of “commend”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishcommendenTo recommend, commend or laud; To place someone...
2Old Frenchcomender—
3Latincommendō—
4Latincōn-—
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “commend”

  • commendatory
  • commendeth
  • discommend
  • commender
  • commendest
  • discommender
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →