Where does “instrumental” come from?
Instrumental comes from Middle English instrumental, from Latin -alis and Latin -mentum combined with Latin in, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ne.
instrumental (English): essential or central; of great importance or...
Definitions
- essential or central; of great importance or...
Ancestry of “instrumental”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | instrumental | Resembling an instrument in role; instrumental;... |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | instrumentalis | instrumental |
| 3 | Latin | īnstrūmentum | An instrument, tool, utensil |
| 4 | Latin | -mentum | instrument, medium, or result of; e.g.... |
| 5 | Latin | -menta | nominative plural of -mentum; accusative plural... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -mn̥ | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs |