Where does “imbalance” come from?
Imbalance comes from English in- (prefix meaning "not") added to balance, ultimately derived from Latin bi- (prefix meaning "two") and Latin bis (twice), from Latin duo (two).
imbalance (English): The property of not being in balance
Definitions
- The property of not being in balance
Ancestry of “imbalance”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | balance | A state in which opposing forces harmonise;... |
| 2 | Middle English | balaunce | A set of scales; a balance; The ensuring of... |
| 3 | Old French | balance | scales (weighing scales) |
| 4 | Late Latin | bilancia | — |
| 5 | Latin | bilanx | having two scales; a balance with two scalepans |
| 6 | Latin | bi- | having two parts; occurring twice |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | *dwi- | two, bi-, di |