Where does “debauchery” come from?
Debauchery comes from Middle French desbaucher, from Old French desbauchier, which combines Latin dis- and -arius, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning separation or division.
debauchery (English): Indulgence in sensual pleasures; scandalous...
Definitions
- Indulgence in sensual pleasures; scandalous...
Ancestry of “debauchery”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | debauch | An individual act of debauchery; An orgy; To... |
| 2 | Middle French | desbaucher | to entice someone away from his or her work or... |
| 3 | Old French | desbauchier | to leave; to depart |
| 4 | Frankish | balkō | beam, balk |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | balkô | beam, balk |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰelǵ- | to balk, beam |