Where does “control character” come from?
control character (English) comes from English control, from Middle English controllen, from Middle French contreroller, from Medieval Latin contrarotulare, from Latin contrarotulus, from Latin rotulus, from Latin rotula, from Arabic رَطْل — ingot.
control character (English): A character which does not have a direct visual appearance as a glyph, but rather causes some other action to occur, such as a transition to a new line
Definitions
- A character which does not have a direct visual appearance as a glyph, but rather causes some other action to occur, such as a transition to a new line
Ancestry of “control character”, step by step
control character traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English control
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | control | To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate... |
| 2 | Middle English | controllen | to restrain or keep in check |
| 3 | Middle French | contreroller | to control |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | contrarotulare | — |
| 5 | Latin | contrarotulus | copy of a roll |
| 6 | Latin | rotulus | Alternative form of rotula; roll; roll of paper |
| 7 | Latin | rotula | a small wheel; roll |
| 8 | Arabic | رَطْل | — |
| 9 | Classical Syriac | ܪܝܛܠܐ | — |
| 10 | Classical Syriac | ܠܝܛܪܐ | libra, pound |
| 11 | French | litre | litre |
| 12 | Medieval Latin | litra | — |
| 13 | Ancient Greek | λίτρα | litra, a Sicilian silver coin; libra, a unit of... |
| 14 | Proto-Italic | *līðrā | ingot |
via English character
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | character | A being involved in the action of a story; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | caracter | — |
| 3 | Old French | caractere | mark; sign; indication |
| 4 | Latin | character | branding iron; brand; characteristic, mark,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χαρακτήρ | instrument used for engraving; person who... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χαράσσω | to sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |