Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “institution” come from?

Institution comes from Old French institution, from Latin institutio (a founding or establishment), derived from Latin in- (in) and stō (to stand), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European steh₂- (to stand).

institution (English): A custom or practice of a society or community;...

Definitions

  1. A custom or practice of a society or community;...

Ancestry of “institution”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchinstitution—
2Latininstitutiodisposition, arrangement; custom, manner;...
3Latin-tiō—
4Latindissertātiō—
5Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
6Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
7Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
8Latincalceusshoe
9Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
10Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “institution”

  • institutional
  • institutionalization
  • institutionally
  • institutionalism
  • institutionalize
  • institutionalist
  • deinstitutionalization
  • noninstitutional
  • interinstitutional
  • reinstitution
  • institutionality
  • deinstitutionalize
  • extrainstitutional
  • intrainstitutional
  • institutionwide
  • reinstitutionalization
  • reinstitutionalize
  • postinstitutional
  • institutionary
  • institutionalizable
  • antiinstitutionalist
  • institutions
  • anti-institutionalism
  • superinstitution
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →