Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “conjecture” come from?

Conjecture comes from Latin coniectura, derived from coniectus, the past participle of conicere, formed from the prefix con- and iacere meaning to throw.

conjecture (English): A statement or an idea which is unproven, but is...

Definitions

  1. A statement or an idea which is unproven, but is...

Ancestry of “conjecture”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinconiectūra—
2Latinconiectusa throwing together; a crowding, connecting or...
3Latincōniciō—
4Latincōn-—
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “conjecture”

  • conjectural
  • conjecturally
  • conjecturer
  • conjecturable
  • unconjecturable
  • conjecturably
  • conjectureth
  • misconjecture
  • nonconjectural
  • conjecturalist
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →