Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “contribute” come from?

Contribute comes from Latin contributus, the past participle of contribuo, formed from the prefix con- (meaning "together") and tribuō (meaning "to give or grant").

contribute (English): To give something that is or becomes part of a...

Definitions

  1. To give something that is or becomes part of a...

Ancestry of “contribute”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincontribūtus—
2Latincontribuō—
3Latincōn-—
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 “contribute”

  • contributing
  • contributive
  • noncontributing
  • contributable
  • recontribute
  • contributively
  • overcontribute
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →