Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cultus” come from?

Cultus comes from Latin cultus, the past participle of Latin colo, which derives from Proto-Indo-European kʷel-, a root meaning to turn or move around.

cultus (English): Established or accepted religious rites or...

Definitions

  1. Established or accepted religious rites or...

Ancestry of “cultus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latincultustilled, cultivated, having been cultivated;...
2Latincoleresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
3LatincoloI till, cultivate the land; I inhabit; I protect,...
4Latinquelo—
5Proto-Italickʷelō—
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷéleti—
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →