Where does “infidel” come from?

Infidel comes from Middle French infidèle, from Latin infidelis, combining the prefix in- with Latin in meaning "not" and Proto-Indo-European bʰidʰ- or bʰeydʰ- relating to faith or trust.

infidel (English): Rejecting a specific religion; Of, characteristic...

Definitions

  1. Rejecting a specific religion; Of, characteristic...

Ancestry of “infidel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchinfidèleunfaithful
2Latinīnfidēlisunfaithful
3Latinfidēlisfaithful, loyal
4Latinfidēs—
5Proto-Italicfeiðosfaithful, reliable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeydʰosfaithful, trustworthy
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeydʰ-to compel, force; to trust

Words derived from “infidel”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeydʰ- →