Where does “fifth columnist” come from?
fifth columnist (English) comes from English ist, from English -ist, from Old French -iste, from Latin -ista, from Ancient Greek -ιστής, from Ancient Greek -τής, from Proto-Hellenic -tās.
fifth columnist (English): someone who belongs to a group that secretly...
Definitions
- someone who belongs to a group that secretly...
Ancestry of “fifth columnist”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | ist | A practitioner or supporter of an ism |
| 2 | English | -ist | Added to words to form nouns denoting |
| 3 | Old French | -iste | — |
| 4 | Latin | -ista | -ist; one who practises or believes |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -ιστής | Alternative form of -τής; -ist |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | -τής | Appended to verbs to form agent nouns |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | -tās | — |