Where does “insolvent” come from?
Insolvent comes from French insolvent, from Latin insolvent- (not able to pay), composed of Latin in- (not) and solvent-, the present participle of Latin solvere (to loosen, pay), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to loosen and in.
insolvent (English): Unable to pay one's bills as they fall due; Owing...
Definitions
- Unable to pay one's bills as they fall due; Owing...
Ancestry of “insolvent”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | solvent | A liquid that dissolves a solid, liquid, or... |
| 2 | French | solvent | third-person plural present indicative of soudre;... |
| 3 | Latin | solventem | accusative masculine singular of solvēns;... |
| 4 | Latin | solvo | to loosen, untie, undo; free [up], release, acquit, exempt |
| 5 | Latin | sē- | apart-; aside-; away |
| 6 | Latin | sex | six; 6 |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | seks | six |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | swéḱs | six |