Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “contemporary” come from?

Contemporary derives from Latin contemporarius, formed from the prefix con- (meaning "with") and the root temp- referring to time, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European.

contemporary (English): From the same time period, coexistent in time;...

Definitions

  1. From the same time period, coexistent in time;...

Ancestry of “contemporary”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincontemporarius—
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 “contemporary”

  • contemporarily
  • contemporariness
  • contemporize
  • noncontemporary
  • ultracontemporary
  • uncontemporary
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →