Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cover” come from?

Cover comes from Middle English coveren, from Old French covrir, from Latin cooperire, meaning to cover completely, formed from the prefix con- and operire.

cover (English): A lid; Area or situation which screens a person...

Definitions

  1. A lid; Area or situation which screens a person...

Ancestry of “cover”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcoverento recover
2Old Frenchcovrirto cover
3Latincooperiō—
4Latincōn-—
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “cover”

  • covering
  • undercover
  • hardcover
  • coverslip
  • covereth
  • softcover
  • coverall
  • landcover
  • bedcover
  • wallcovering
  • coverglass
  • coverless
  • slipcover
  • coverer
  • coverability
  • coverable
  • coverslipped
  • coversheet
  • dustcover
  • headcover
  • coverline
  • bedcovering
  • coverside
  • floorcovering
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →