Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “incorrigible” come from?

Incorrigible comes from Old French incorrigible, from Latin incorrigibilis, meaning unable to be corrected, derived from Latin rego meaning to rule or direct.

incorrigible (English): Defective and impossible to materially correct or...

Definitions

  1. Defective and impossible to materially correct or...

Ancestry of “incorrigible”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishincorrigible—
2Middle Frenchincorrigible—
3Latinincorrigibilisnot to be corrected
4LatincorrigoI correct; I straighten; I make alterations or...
5Latincon-Used in compounds to indicate a being or bringing...
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “incorrigible”

  • incorrigibly
  • incorrigibility
  • incorrigibleness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →