Etymology Explorer › English

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

  1. To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate...

Ancestry of “control”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcontrollento restrain or keep in check
2Middle Frenchcontrerollerto control
3Medieval Latincontrarotulare—
4Latincontrarotuluscopy of a roll
5LatinrotulusAlternative form of rotula; roll; roll of paper
6Latinrotulaa small wheel; roll
7Arabicرَطْل—
8Classical Syriacܪܝܛܠܐ—
9Classical Syriacܠܝܛܪܐlibra, pound
10Frenchlitrelitre
11Medieval Latinlitra—
12Ancient Greekλίτραlitra, a Sicilian silver coin; libra, a unit of...
13Proto-Italic*līðrā—

Words derived from “control”

  • uncontrollable
  • controllable
  • uncontrollably
  • controllability
  • biocontrol
  • decontrol
  • dyscontrol
  • overcontrol
  • incontrollable
  • noncontrollable
  • controllably
  • controlment
  • uncontrol
  • controlee
  • stereocontrol
  • telecontrol
  • uncontrollableness
  • Contrology
  • servocontrol
  • subcontrol
  • anticontrol
  • controlless
  • regiocontrol
  • photocontrol
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