Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “defalcation” come from?

Defalcation comes from Latin defalcationem, noun form of defalcatio, from the verb defalco meaning to cut down or reduce, derived from falx meaning sickle, with the prefix de-.

defalcation (English): The act of cancelling part of a claim by...

Definitions

  1. The act of cancelling part of a claim by...

Ancestry of “defalcation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latindēfalcātiōnem—
2Latindēfalcātiō—
3Latindēfalcō—
4Latindē—
5Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
6Latinposteablative singular of postis
7Proto-Italicposti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpósti—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pós →