Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “emulation” come from?

Emulation comes from Middle French émulation, from Latin aemulationem, derived from Latin aemulatio and the suffix -tio, ultimately from Latin aemulus meaning rival, traced to Ancient Greek ἁμιλλάομαι meaning to compete.

emulation (English): The endeavor or desire to equal or excel someone...

Definitions

  1. The endeavor or desire to equal or excel someone...

Ancestry of “emulation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchémulation—
2LatinaemulatioThe endeavor to be equal to or match another in...
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →