Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “fine” come from?

Fine comes from Italian fine, from Latin finis, from Proto-Indo-European dʰeygʷ-, a root meaning to knead or form.

fine (English): Senses referring to subjective quality; Senses...

Definitions

  1. Senses referring to subjective quality; Senses...

Ancestry of “fine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Germanfeinfine; fine; very good; as it should be; refined;...
2Middle High Germanfīn—
3Old Frenchfinfine, delicate
4Latinfīnis—
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰnh₂-—

Words derived from “fine”

  • finer
  • refinement
  • refine
  • refining
  • fineness
  • refinery
  • refiner
  • superfine
  • hyperfine
  • finicky
  • ultrafine
  • finical
  • finicking
  • biorefinery
  • finespun
  • electrorefining
  • finable
  • refinable
  • overrefinement
  • microfine
  • finically
  • finedrawn
  • finickiness
  • superhyperfine
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰnh₂- →