Where does “fundamental” come from?

Fundamental derives from Late Latin fundamentalis, from Latin fundamentum (foundation), from the root fundus (bottom) with the suffix -mentum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to pour or flow.

fundamental (English): A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or...

Definitions

  1. A leading or primary principle, rule, law, or...

Ancestry of “fundamental”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinfundāmentālisfoundation
2Latinfundāmentumfoundation
3Latinfundōto pour out, shed
4Latinfundusbottom; farm; piece of land; estate; ground
5Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰudʰmḗnbottom
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “fundamental

Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂-