Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “disqualify” come from?

Disqualify comes from Middle English dis- combined with qualify, with the dis- prefix tracing back through Latin dis- to Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁, meaning two or apart.

disqualify (English): To make ineligible for something; To exclude from...

Definitions

  1. To make ineligible for something; To exclude from...

Ancestry of “disqualify”, 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 “disqualify”

  • disqualifier
  • disqualifiable
  • disqualifier
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →