Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “essentialism” come from?

Essentialism derives from English essential, from Ancient Greek -ισμός, from Latin -alis, from Latin esse meaning to be, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ésti meaning is.

essentialism (English): The view that objects have properties that are...

Definitions

  1. The view that objects have properties that are...

Ancestry of “essentialism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishessentialNecessary; Very important; of high importance;...
2Latinessentialisessential; genitive singular of essentiāle
3Frenchessentielessential; essential; essence, essential part
4Late Latinessentialisessential; genitive singular of essentiāle
5Latinessentiaessence, being
6Latinessepresent infinitive of sum; state, condition;...
7Ancient Greekοὐσίαthat which is one's own, one's substance,...
8Ancient GreekεἰμίTo be, exist; live; To be; it is possible
9Proto-Hellenicehmito be
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ésmifirst-person singular present indicative of...
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ēs-—

Words derived from “essentialism”

  • antiessentialism
  • nonessentialism
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ēs- →