Where does “expression” come from?

Expression comes from Middle French expression, from Latin expressio (a pressing out), derived from expressus (pressed out), the past participle of exprimere (to press out), formed from the prefix ex- and the verb premere (to press).

expression (English): The action of expressing thoughts, ideas,...

Definitions

  1. The action of expressing thoughts, ideas,...

Ancestry of “expression”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchexpression
2Latinexpressioexpulsion; expression, pressing
3Latin-tiōtion, -ation, -ing
4Latindissertātiō(spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition
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

Words derived from “expression

Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ
expression — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer