Where does “control” come from?
Control comes from Middle English controllen, from Middle French contreroller, from Latin contrarotulum, a compound of contra and rota meaning to check against a roll or list.
control (English): To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate...
Definitions
- To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate...
Ancestry of “control”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | controllen | to restrain or keep in check |
| 2 | Middle French | contreroller | to control |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | contrarotulare | — |
| 4 | Latin | contrarotulus | copy of a roll |
| 5 | Latin | rotulus | Alternative form of rotula; roll; roll of paper |
| 6 | Latin | rotula | a small wheel; roll |
| 7 | Arabic | رَطْل | — |
| 8 | Classical Syriac | ܪܝܛܠܐ | — |
| 9 | Classical Syriac | ܠܝܛܪܐ | libra, pound |
| 10 | French | litre | litre |
| 11 | Medieval Latin | litra | — |
| 12 | Ancient Greek | λίτρα | litra, a Sicilian silver coin; libra, a unit of... |
| 13 | Proto-Italic | *līðrā | ingot |