Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “illusory” come from?

Illusory derives from Middle French illusorie, from Latin illusor, meaning one who mocks or deceives.

illusory (English): Resulting from an illusion; deceptive, imaginary,...

Definitions

  1. Resulting from an illusion; deceptive, imaginary,...

Ancestry of “illusory”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchillusorie—
2Latinillusorius—
3Latinillusorscoffer, mocker
4LatinilludoI mock, ridicule; I abuse, assault
5Latinīn-—
6Latinîn—
7Latinenlookǃ beholdǃ; reallyǃ?; come onǃ
8Proto-Italicenin
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁énin

Words derived from “illusory”

  • illusoriness
  • illusorily
  • unillusory
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁én →