Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “congress” come from?

Congress derives from Latin congressum, the past participle of congredior, meaning to meet or encounter, formed from the prefix con- and the verb gradior.

congress (English): A coming together of two or more people; a...

Definitions

  1. A coming together of two or more people; a...

Ancestry of “congress”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincongressumnominative neuter singular of congressus;...
2LatincongrediorI go, come or meet with someone, approach; visit,...
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 “congress”

  • congressman
  • congresswoman
  • congressperson
  • uncongressed
  • congressive
  • congressjerk
  • congresscritter
  • конгрессмен
  • конгресмен
  • kongresmen
  • कांग्रेस
  • कांग्रेसी
  • કોંગ્રેસ
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →