Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “counteroffer” come from?

Counteroffer derives from English counter- and offer, where offer comes from English off and Chinese 兒, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European bʰer- meaning "to carry."

counteroffer (English): An offer made in reply to an unacceptable offer;...

Definitions

  1. An offer made in reply to an unacceptable offer;...

Ancestry of “counteroffer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishofferA proposal that has been made; Something put...
2Middle Englishoffer—
3Old Englishoffrianto offer
4Latinofferō—
5Latinob-towards; against
6Latinobolusobolus
7Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
8Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
9Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
10Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
11Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

Words derived from “counteroffer”

  • counter-offer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →