Where does “doubting” come from?
Doubting derives from Middle English douten, from Old French douter, from Latin dubitare, ultimately from Latin duo meaning "two," reflecting the sense of mental wavering between two alternatives.
doubting (English): present participle of doubt; A condition of doubt
Definitions
- present participle of doubt; A condition of doubt
Ancestry of “doubting”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | doubt | To be undecided about; to lack confidence in; to... |
| 2 | Middle English | douten | to be in doubt, feel unsure; to be afraid or... |
| 3 | Old French | douter | Alternative form of doter |
| 4 | Latin | dubitō | to waver (in opinion), be uncertain, doubt, question, be in doubt |
| 5 | Latin | dubō | — |
| 6 | Latin | *dubos | — |
| 7 | Indo-European | *bʰuH- | — |