Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “contour” come from?

Contour comes from French contour, derived from French contourner, from Italian contornare, ultimately from Latin cum meaning "with."

contour (English): An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved...

Definitions

  1. An outline, boundary or border, usually of curved...

Ancestry of “contour”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchcontourcontour
2Frenchcontournerto circumvent, to bypass, to skirt around; to...
3Vulgar Latincontornare—
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 “contour”

  • contourite
  • contourlet
  • recontour
  • isocontour
  • contourless
  • contourable
  • contouritic
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →