Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “copious” come from?

Copious comes from Middle English copious, from Latin copiosus meaning "abundant," ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European h₃ep- meaning "to seize" or "possess."

copious (English): Vast in quantity or number, profuse, abundant;...

Definitions

  1. Vast in quantity or number, profuse, abundant;...

Ancestry of “copious”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcopious—
2Latincopiosuscopious, plentiful, abundant; prolific; eloquent
3Latincōpia—
4Latincoopia—
5Latinco-allomorph of con-
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “copious”

  • copiously
  • copiousness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →