Where does “essential” come from?

Essential derives from Late Latin essentialis, from Latin esse meaning "to be," itself from Proto-Indo-European h₁es- meaning "to be" or "to exist."

essential (English): Necessary; Very important; of high importance;...

Definitions

  1. Necessary; Very important; of high importance;...

Ancestry of “essential”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinessentialisessential; genitive singular of essentiāle
2Frenchessentielessential; essential; essence, essential part
3Late Latinessentialisessential; genitive singular of essentiāle
4Latinessentiaessence, being
5Latinessepresent infinitive of sum; state, condition;...
6Ancient Greekοὐσίαthat which is one's own, one's substance,...
7Ancient GreekεἰμίTo be, exist; live; To be; it is possible
8Proto-Hellenicehmito be
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ésmifirst-person singular present indicative of...
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ēs-to be

Words derived from “essential

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ēs-