Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “humiliation” come from?

Humiliation comes from Middle French humiliation, from Latin humiliatio, derived from Latin humilis meaning lowly or humble, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰéǵʰōm meaning earth or ground.

humiliation (English): The act of humiliating or humbling someone;...

Definitions

  1. The act of humiliating or humbling someone;...

Ancestry of “humiliation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchhumiliation—
2Latinhumiliātiō—
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →