Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “denominator” come from?

Denominator comes from Latin denominator, formed from the prefix de- and the agent noun suffix -tor applied to a verb meaning "to name," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₃neh₃- meaning "to name."

denominator (English): The number or expression written below the line...

Definitions

  1. The number or expression written below the line...

Ancestry of “denominator”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Late Latindenominatorone who names or designates
2LatindenominoI name, designate, nominate
3LatinnominoI name, give a name to, call by name; I make...
4Latinnomenname, appellation; in particular, the middle name...
5Proto-Italicnomən—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁nómn̥name
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₃neh₃-to name
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₃neh₃- →