Where does “culpable” come from?
Culpable comes from Middle English culpable, from Old French culpable, from Latin culpabilis, derived from culpare meaning to blame, from culpa meaning fault or blame.
culpable (English): Meriting condemnation, censure or blame,...
Definitions
- Meriting condemnation, censure or blame,...
Ancestry of “culpable”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | culpable | — |
| 2 | Old French | culpable | — |
| 3 | Latin | culpābilis | blameworthy, culpable |
| 4 | Latin | culpo | I blame |
| 5 | Latin | culpa | fault, defect; blame, guilt; crime |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kʷolpā | mistake; fault |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷolp-eh₂ | bend, turn |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷelp- | to bend; to curve, arch |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷel- | to turn |