Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “comminute” come from?

comminute (English) comes from Latin comminutus, from Latin comminuo, from Latin con-, from Latin cum, from Old Latin com, from Proto-Italic kom, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

comminute (English): To pulverize; to smash; To cause fragmentation;...

Definitions

  1. To pulverize; to smash; To cause fragmentation;...

Ancestry of “comminute”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincomminutuscrumbled; pulverized; lessened
2LatincomminuoI break or crumble into small pieces; I pulverize...
3Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
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 “comminute”

  • comminuted
  • uncomminuted
  • noncomminuted
  • comminutor
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →