Where does “decomposition” come from?

Decomposition comes from Latin dē- meaning "down" and Latin componere, from com- "together" and ponere "to place," literally meaning the process of things coming apart or being broken down into constituent parts.

decomposition (English): A biological process through which organic...

Definitions

  1. A biological process through which organic...

Ancestry of “decomposition”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcompositionThe act of putting together; assembly; A mixture...
2Middle EnglishcomposiciounThe makeup, ingredients, or composition of...
3Old Frenchcomposicioncomposition
4Latincompositiōarrangement, combination
5Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt
12Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
13Old High Germankuti
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “decomposition

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-
decomposition — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer