Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gerund” come from?

Gerund comes from Latin gerundium, derived from the Latin gerundive gerundus, from the verb gero meaning to carry or conduct, ultimately from Proto-Italic gezō and Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ-.

gerund (English): A verbal form that functions as a verbal noun; In...

Definitions

  1. A verbal form that functions as a verbal noun; In...

Ancestry of “gerund”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latingerundiumgerund
2Latingerō—
3Proto-Italicgezōcarry, bear
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ǵ-es-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive

Words derived from “gerund”

  • gerundial
  • gerundially
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →