Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “complacency” come from?

Complacency comes from Latin complacentia, derived from complaceo, meaning to please, formed from the prefix com- combined with placeo, meaning to please.

complacency (English): A feeling of contented self-satisfaction,...

Definitions

  1. A feeling of contented self-satisfaction,...

Ancestry of “complacency”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcomplacenceBeing complacent; a feeling of contentment or...
2Latincomplacentianominative neuter plural of complacēns;...
3LatincomplaceoI please or take the fancy of
4Latincom-allomorph of con-
5Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “complacency”

  • overcomplacency
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →