Where does “electrify” come from?

Electrify comes from English electric plus the suffix -ify, which derives from Middle English -ifien, Latin -icus, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European -kos, combined with Latin facio meaning to make or do.

electrify (English): To supply electricity to; to charge with...

Definitions

  1. To supply electricity to; to charge with...

Ancestry of “electrify”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishelectricOf, relating to, produced by, operated with, or...
2English-allyused with adjectives ending in -ic
3EnglishahistoricSynonym of ahistorical
4EnglishhistoricVery important; noteworthy: having importance or...
5Latinhistoricushistorical
6Latinhistoriahistory; account; story
7Ancient Greekἱστορίαinquiry, examination, systematic observation,...
8Ancient Greekἱστορέωto inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,...
9Ancient Greekἵστωρone who knows law and right, judge; witness; a...
10Proto-Hellenicwístōr
11Proto-Indo-Europeanwéydtōrone who has seen, one who knows
12Indo-European*weyd-

Words derived from “electrify

Every word from Indo-European *weyd-Every word from English -allyEvery word from Proto-Indo-European wéydtōr