Where does “intercourse” come from?
Intercourse comes from Old French entrecours, from Latin intercursus, the noun form of intercurro meaning to run between, from curro to run, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kers-.
intercourse (English): Communication, conversation; Dealings between...
Definitions
- Communication, conversation; Dealings between...
Ancestry of “intercourse”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | entrecours | — |
| 2 | Latin | intercursus | mingled with |
| 3 | Latin | intercurro | I run between, or along with; I mingle with |
| 4 | Latin | inter- | inter-, between, in between, among, together |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | γλῶσσα | a tongue; a language; the mouthpiece of a pipe |
| 6 | Old Norse | glotta | to grin, smile scornfully |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | glutōną | To stare; gawk |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰel- | to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;... |