Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “economical” come from?

Economical derives from English economic, from Latin oeconomicus, from Ancient Greek oikonomikos, from Greek nomos meaning law or custom, ultimately from the root nemo meaning to distribute or manage.

economical (English): Careful with money so as not to spend too much;...

Definitions

  1. Careful with money so as not to spend too much;...

Ancestry of “economical”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglisheconomicPertaining to an economy; Frugal; cheap ;...
2Latinoeconomicusdomestic economy; orderly, methodical; economic
3LatinoeconomiaThe management of household affairs; arrangement,...
4Ancient Greekοἰκονομίαthe management of a household or family,...
5Ancient Greekοἰκονόμοςone who manages a household, the master of the...
6Ancient Greekοἶκοςhouse or dwelling place; estate, inheritance;...
7Ancient Greek-λογίαBase for nouns denoting the study of something,...
8Ancient GreekλόγοςThat which is said: word, sentence, speech,...
9Ancient GreekλέγωI put in order, arrange, gather; I choose, count,...
10Proto-Indo-Europeanleǵ-to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to...

Words derived from “economical”

  • economically
  • uneconomical
  • uneconomically
  • noneconomical
  • economicly
  • economicalness
  • uneconomicalness
  • pharmacoeconomical
Every word from Proto-Indo-European leǵ- →