Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “data” come from?

Data derives from Latin data, the feminine plural of datum, past participle of dare meaning "to give," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European deh₃- with the same sense.

data (English): plural of datum; Information, especially in a...

Definitions

  1. plural of datum; Information, especially in a...

Ancestry of “data”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latindatumgift, present; accusative supine of dō;...
2Latindatusgiven; offered; yielded
3Latindāre—
4Proto-Italicdidōgive
5Proto-Indo-Europeandédeh₃tito be giving
6Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₃-to give

Words derived from “data”

  • database
  • metadata
  • datagram
  • datafile
  • datasheet
  • databank
  • geodatabase
  • microdata
  • biodata
  • geodata
  • datalink
  • datalog
  • datalogger
  • datapad
  • paradata
  • databook
  • dataspace
  • subdatasheet
  • datacentric
  • pseudodata
  • multidata
  • dataless
  • nondatabase
  • viewdata
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₃- →