Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “countertransference” come from?

Countertransference comes from Middle English counter- and transference, with counter- from Old French countre- (against), from Latin contra (against), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ret- (to run).

countertransference (English): The transference of a therapist's own unconscious...

Definitions

  1. The transference of a therapist's own unconscious...

Ancestry of “countertransference”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishcounter-in opposition to
2Middle Englishcounter-—
3Old Frenchcountre-Alternative form of contre-
4Old Frenchcontreagainst
5Latincontrā—
6Latinubī—
7Latincubī—
8Proto-Italic*kʷuðei—
Every word from Proto-Italic *kʷuðei →