Where does “inconceivably” come from?
Inconceivably derives from English inconceivable, which combines English conceive from Latin concipio meaning "to take together," with Latin in- meaning "not," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European keh₂p- meaning "to seize."
inconceivably (English): In an inconceivable manner, not believable or...
Definitions
- In an inconceivable manner, not believable or...
Ancestry of “inconceivably”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | inconceivable | Unable to be conceived or imagined; unbelievable |
| 2 | English | conceivable | Capable of being conceived or imagined |
| 3 | English | conceive | To develop an idea; to form in the mind; to plan;... |
| 4 | Middle English | conceyven | To become pregnant; to conceive |
| 5 | Old French | concevoir | to conceive |
| 6 | Latin | concipiō | to receive or catch, grasp |
| 7 | Latin | cōn- | Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing together of several objects |
| 8 | Latin | cum | with, along with; at; -fold |
| 9 | Old Latin | com | Alternative form of cum |
| 10 | Proto-Italic | kom | with, along, at |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱóm | beside, near, by, with |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱe | Deictic particle, here; Post-positional... |
| 13 | Middle English | kyt | — |
| 14 | German | kitt | putty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes |
| 15 | Old High German | kuti | — |
| 16 | Proto-West Germanic | kwidu | gum, resin |
| 17 | Proto-Germanic | kweduz | resin |
| 18 | Proto-Indo-European | gʷet- | resin, gum; to say, speak |