Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “decriminalization” come from?

decriminalization (English) comes from English criminalization, from English criminal, from Middle English cryminal, from Anglo-Norman criminal, from Latin crīminālis, from Latin crīmen, from Proto-Italic kreimen, from Proto-Indo-European kréymn̥ — to sift, separate, divide.

decriminalization (English): The act of making a previously criminal activity...

Definitions

  1. The act of making a previously criminal activity...

Ancestry of “decriminalization”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcriminalizationThe act of making a previously legal activity...
2EnglishcriminalAgainst the law; forbidden by law; Guilty of...
3Middle EnglishcryminalRelating to crime or illegal actions; criminal;...
4Anglo-Normancriminalcriminal; illegal; against the law
5Latincrīminālis—
6Latincrīmen—
7Proto-Italickreimen—
8Proto-Indo-Europeankréymn̥—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankrey-to sift, separate, divide
Every word from Proto-Indo-European krey- →