Where does “cope” come from?
Cope derives from Middle English coupen, from Latin capa, from Old Dutch cōpon, from Proto-Germanic kaupōną, from Latin caupo, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kaup- with the suffix -eh₂.
cope (English): To deal effectively with something, especially if...
Definitions
- To deal effectively with something, especially if...
Ancestry of “cope”, step by step
cope traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English cope
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | cope | A cape or cloak; a loose-fitting outer layer; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | cape | Alternative form of cappe; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Old French | cap | — |
| 4 | Latin | caput | head; headlike protuberance on an organ or body... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | kaput | head |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | káput | head |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kap- | to seize, hold |
via Old French couper
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | couper | to strike, to cut |