Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “conquer” come from?

Conquer comes from Middle English conqueren, from Old French conquerre, from Latin conquaerere, combining con- and quaerere.

conquer (English): To defeat in combat; to subjugate; To acquire by...

Definitions

  1. To defeat in combat; to subjugate; To acquire by...

Ancestry of “conquer”, step by step

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

Words derived from “conquer”

  • conquering
  • unconquerable
  • conquerable
  • conquerer
  • unconquerably
  • conquereth
  • conqueress
  • conquerest
  • inconquerable
  • unconquering
  • unconquerableness
  • conqueringly
  • conquerableness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →