Where does “higher-order” come from?

higher-order (English) comes from English order, from German Ordnung, from Middle High German ordenunge, from Old High German ordinunga, from Old High German ordinōn, from Latin ordino, from Latin ordo, from Proto-Italic ord-on- — to fit, to fix, to put together.

higher-order (English): Involving more sophisticated thinking or reasoning

Definitions

  1. Involving more sophisticated thinking or reasoning

Ancestry of “higher-order”, step by step

higher-order traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English order

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishorderArrangement, disposition, or sequence; A position...
2GermanOrdnungarrangement, regulation; classification, order,...
3Middle High Germanordenunge
4Old High Germanordinunga
5Old High Germanordinōnto put in order
6LatinordinoI arrange, put in order, organize; I rule,...
7Latinordoa methodical series, arrangement, or order;...
8Proto-Italicord-on-row, order
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂er-to fit, to fix, to put together

via English higher

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishhighercomparative form of high: more high; A national...
2EnglishhighElevated, extending above a base or average...
3Middle Englishheighhigh; Alternative form of hey; Alternative form...
4Old Englishhēahhigh, tall, lofty, high-class, exalted, sublime,...
5Old Englishhāmhome; village, community; village, hamlet, manor,...
6Proto-West Germanichaimhome
7Proto-Germanichaimazhome; house; village
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱóymosof the home, belonging to the family; village,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂er-
higher-order — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer