Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “compartmentalize” come from?

Compartmentalize derives from English compartment, from Italian compartimento, from Latin compartior meaning to divide together, with the suffix -mentum denoting the result of an action.

compartmentalize (English): To separate something into different categories...

Definitions

  1. To separate something into different categories...

Ancestry of “compartmentalize”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcompartmentalOf, pertaining to, or constructed from...
2EnglishcompartmentA room, or section, or chamber; One of the parts...
3Middle Frenchcompartiment—
4Italiancompartimentodistrict
5ItaliancompartireTo divide or share
6LatincompartiorI share
7Latincom-allomorph of con-
8Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
9Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
10Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
11Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
12Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
13Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
14Middle Englishkyt—
15Germankitt—
16Old High Germankuti—
17Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
18Proto-Germanickweduzresin
19Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
20Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “compartmentalize”

  • compartmentalization
  • decompartmentalization
  • decompartmentalize
  • compartmentalizer
  • subcompartmentalization
  • compartmentalizable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →