Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “declension” come from?

Declension comes from Middle English declenson, from Middle French declinaison, from Latin declinatio, derived from Latin declino, composed of the prefix de- and a root from Proto-Indo-European ḱley-, itself from ḱel-.

declension (English): A falling off, decay or descent; The act of...

Definitions

  1. A falling off, decay or descent; The act of...

Ancestry of “declension”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdeclinson—
2Middle Frenchdeclinaison—
3Latindēclīnātiō—
4Latin-ātiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “declension”

  • declensional
  • declensionist
  • declensionism
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →