Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “disown” come from?

Disown derives from Middle English aȝen, from Latin dis- combined with a root ultimately traceable to Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁, meaning two.

disown (English): To refuse to own, or to refuse to acknowledge...

Definitions

  1. To refuse to own, or to refuse to acknowledge...

Ancestry of “disown”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishdis-reversal or removal; apart; Used as an...
2Middle Englishdis-—
3Old Frenchdes-de-; dis-
4Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
5Latincalceusshoe
6Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
7Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “disown”

  • disownment
  • disowner
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →