Where does “discontinuous” come from?

Discontinuous comes from Middle English dis- combined with continuous, which derives from Latin dis- (apart) and Latin ex (out), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ (two).

discontinuous (English): having breaks or interruptions; intermittent;...

Definitions

  1. having breaks or interruptions; intermittent;...

Ancestry of “discontinuous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcontinuousWithout stopping; without a break, cessation, or...
2Latincontinuuscontinuous, uninterrupted, successive; straight,...
3LatincontineoI hold or keep together/close, surround, contain;...
4Latincōn-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt
11Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
12Old High Germankuti
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “discontinuous

Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū-