Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “contracting” come from?

Contracting derives from the Old French contract, from Latin contractum, the past participle of contraho, meaning to draw together, from con- and trahere.

contracting (English): present participle of contract; Getting smaller;...

Definitions

  1. present participle of contract; Getting smaller;...

Ancestry of “contracting”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcontractAn agreement between two or more parties, to...
2Old Frenchcontract—
3Latincontractuscollected, accomplished, contracted; narrow,...
4Latincontrahō—
5Latincōn-—
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “contracting”

  • noncontracting
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →