Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “conversant” come from?

Conversant comes from Old French conversant, derived from Old French converser, from Latin converso, ultimately from Proto-Italic komwertō meaning to turn or overturn.

conversant (English): closely familiar; current; having frequent...

Definitions

  1. closely familiar; current; having frequent...

Ancestry of “conversant”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchconversant—
2Old Frenchconverserto converse
3Latinconversorfirst-person singular present passive indicative...
4Latincōn-—
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “conversant”

  • conversancy
  • unconversant
  • inconversant
  • conversantly
  • nonconversant
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →