Where does “constitutionalism” come from?

Constitutionalism derives from English constitution, which comes from Latin constitutio, the noun form of constituere meaning "to establish or set up," formed with the prefix con-.

constitutionalism (English): A constitutional system of governance; Adherence...

Definitions

  1. A constitutional system of governance; Adherence...

Ancestry of “constitutionalism”, step by step

constitutionalism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English constitutional

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconstitutionalBelonging to, or inherent in, the constitution or...
2EnglishconstitutionThe act, or process of setting something up, or...
3Middle EnglishconstituciounAn ecclesiastical decree or rule, especially one...
4Old Frenchconstitucionconstitution
5Latincōnstitūtiōa constitution, disposition, nature, character
6Latincōnstituōto place, put, locate, lay
7Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt
14Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
15Old High Germankuti
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
19Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

via French constitutionnalisme

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchconstitutionnalismeconstitutionalism
2Frenchconstitutionnelconstitutional
3French-elTo make an adjectival form of a noun; -al
4Old French-elSuffix that usually denotes a masculine noun
5Latin-ellusAlternative form of -ulus; "forming masculine...
6Latin-ulusUsed to form a diminutive of a noun, indicating...
7Proto-Italic-olos
8Proto-Italic-elosForms desubstantival and deadjectival diminutive nouns
9Proto-Indo-European-e-lós
10Proto-Indo-European-lósForms agent nouns from verbal roots
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-
constitutionalism — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer