Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gravity dam” come from?

gravity dam (English) comes from English dam, from English damn, from Middle English dampnen, from Old French dampner, from Latin damnō, from Latin damnum, from Proto-Italic dapnom, from Proto-Indo-European dh₂pnóm — to share, divide.

gravity dam (English): An impoundment dam that is wider at the base than...

Definitions

  1. An impoundment dam that is wider at the base than...

Ancestry of “gravity dam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdamA structure placed across a flowing body of water...
2EnglishdamnTo condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare...
3Middle Englishdampnento damn
4Old Frenchdampnerto damn
5Latindamnō—
6Latindamnumdamage or injury; loss; a fine
7Proto-Italicdapnom—
8Proto-Indo-Europeandh₂pnómexpense, investment
9Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂p-to sacrifice; to lose
10Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide
Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂- →