Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cruciate” come from?

Cruciate comes from Latin cruciatus, the past participle of crucio meaning "to torture," derived from crux meaning "cross," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-.

cruciate (English): In the form of a cross; cruciform; Overlapping or...

Definitions

  1. In the form of a cross; cruciform; Overlapping or...

Ancestry of “cruciate”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincruciatuscrucified; tortured; marked by a cross
2Latincruciō—
3Latincruxwooden frame on which criminals were crucified,...
4Proto-Italic*kruks—
5Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “cruciate”

  • cruciately
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →