Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “encomienda” come from?

Encomienda comes from Spanish encomienda, a colonial system of labor control derived from the verb encomiar, meaning to entrust or commit to someone's care.

encomienda (English): A system in Spain and, later and more...

Definitions

  1. A system in Spain and, later and more...

Ancestry of “encomienda”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishencomiendaparcel; order; encomienda
2Spanishencomendarto entrust
3Latincommendāre—
4Latincom-allomorph of con-
5Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →