Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “discontinue” come from?

Discontinue derives from Old French descontinuer, from Medieval Latin discontinuo, combining the Latin prefix dis- with continuus, meaning continuous or uninterrupted.

discontinue (English): To interrupt the continuance of; to put an end...

Definitions

  1. To interrupt the continuance of; to put an end...

Ancestry of “discontinue”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchdescontinuerto separate
2Medieval LatindiscontinuoI disunite; I discontinue
3LatincontinuoI join, connect, unite; I extend, prolong,...
4Latincontinuuscontinuous, uninterrupted, successive; straight,...
5LatincontineoI hold or keep together/close, surround, contain;...
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “discontinue”

  • discontinuer
  • discontinuee
  • discontinuable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →