Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “content” come from?

Content comes from Middle French content, from Latin contentus, the past participle of continere meaning "to hold together," from the prefix con- meaning "with" or "together."

content (English): satisfied; Satisfaction, contentment; pleasure;...

Definitions

  1. satisfied; Satisfaction, contentment; pleasure;...

Ancestry of “content”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcontent—
2Latincontentusstretched, strained, tense, tight, on the...
3LatincontineoI hold or keep together/close, surround, contain;...
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 “content”

  • discontent
  • contentful
  • contentless
  • contently
  • contentual
  • noncontent
  • contenteth
  • contentually
  • microcontent
  • miscontent
  • contentwise
  • contentable
  • discontentful
  • discontenteth
  • geocontent
  • immunocontent
  • decontent
  • e-content
  • discontentive
  • lolcontent
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →