Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “converse” come from?

Converse comes from Latin conversus, the past participle of convertere, meaning "to turn around or transform," from Proto-Italic komwertō.

converse (English): to talk; to engage in conversation; to keep...

Definitions

  1. to talk; to engage in conversation; to keep...

Ancestry of “converse”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchconverserto converse
2Latinconversorfirst-person singular present passive indicative...
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 “converse”

  • conversely
  • conversable
  • conversible
  • converser
  • converseth
  • converseness
  • conversableness
  • conversest
  • inconversable
  • conversably
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →