Where does “imperceptible” come from?
Imperceptible comes from Middle French imperceptible, from Medieval Latin imperceptibilis, combining Latin in- (not) and Latin capio (to take, seize), ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p-.
imperceptible (English): not perceptible, not detectable, too small in...
Definitions
- not perceptible, not detectable, too small in...
Ancestry of “imperceptible”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | imperceptible | — |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | imperceptibilis | imperceptible |
| 3 | Latin | perceptibilis | perceptible, participating |
| 4 | Latin | percipio | to seize or take on (entirely); assume; earn; occupy, keep (i.e. maintain control) |
| 5 | Latin | capio | I take, I capture, I catch, I seize, I take... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | kapiō | take |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | kapjō | take, seize |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kh₂pyéti | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂p- | to seize, grab; to seize; take up; lift; to take,... |