Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “institute” come from?

Institute comes from French institut, derived from Latin instituo (to set up or establish), formed from the prefix in- and the root stō (to stand), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂-.

institute (English): An organization founded to promote a cause; An...

Definitions

  1. An organization founded to promote a cause; An...

Ancestry of “institute”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchinstitutinstitute
2Latininstitutumcustom, principle; decree; intention, plan
3Latininstitutusinstituted, built
4LatininstituoI set up, establish, found, institute or arrange;...
5LatinstatuoI set up, station; I establish, determine, fix; I...
6Latinstātus—
7Latinstō—
8Proto-Italicstaēōstand
9Proto-Indo-Europeansth₂éh₁yeti—
10Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-—

Words derived from “institute”

  • reinstitute
  • institutive
  • instituter
  • 'tute
  • institutest
  • institutist
  • institutively
  • instituteth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- →