Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “commuter” come from?

Commuter comes from English commute, itself from English commutation, tracing through English commute and English commutation in a recursive etymological chain.

commuter (English): One who commutes; A person who regularly travels...

Definitions

  1. One who commutes; A person who regularly travels...

Ancestry of “commuter”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcommuteTo exchange substantially; to abate but not...
2Latincommūtō—
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 “commuter”

  • noncommuter
  • commuterliner
  • commuter bus
  • supercommuter
  • cybercommuter
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →