Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “conservative” come from?

Conservative comes from Middle French conservatif, derived from Latin conservāre meaning to preserve or protect, formed from the prefix con- (with, together) and servāre (to keep or guard).

conservative (English): A person who favors maintenance of the status...

Definitions

  1. A person who favors maintenance of the status...

Ancestry of “conservative”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchconservatif—
2Latincōnservō—
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 “conservative”

  • conservatively
  • neoconservative
  • ultraconservative
  • nonconservative
  • conservativism
  • conservativeness
  • semiconservative
  • archconservative
  • unconservative
  • neoconservativism
  • paleoconservative
  • anticonservative
  • overconservative
  • semiconservatively
  • superconservative
  • paleocon
  • conservatize
  • conservatization
  • anticonservativeness
  • technoconservative
  • conservatard
  • neotard
  • biconservative
  • conservatise
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →