Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “distrust” come from?

Distrust comes from Middle English dis- prefixed to trust, with the prefix ultimately deriving from Latin dis- and Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁.

distrust (English): Lack of trust or confidence; To put no trust in;...

Definitions

  1. Lack of trust or confidence; To put no trust in;...

Ancestry of “distrust”, 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 “distrust”

  • distrustful
  • distrustfully
  • distrustfulness
  • undistrustful
  • distruster
  • distrustest
  • distrusteth
  • distrustless
  • self-distrust
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →