Where does “interesting” come from?
Interesting derives from Middle English -ing, French intérêt, and Latin interesse, meaning "to be between," from inter and the verb sum meaning "to be."
interesting (English): Of concern; affecting, important; Arousing or...
Definitions
- Of concern; affecting, important; Arousing or...
Ancestry of “interesting”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | interest | The price paid for obtaining, or price received... |
| 2 | Old French | interest | — |
| 3 | French | intérêt | interest; point |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | interesse | present active infinitive of intersum; to... |
| 5 | Latin | interesse | present active infinitive of intersum; to... |
| 6 | Latin | esse | present infinitive of sum; state, condition;... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | οὐσία | that which is one's own, one's substance,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | εἰμί | To be, exist; live; To be; it is possible |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | ehmi | to be |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁ésmi | first-person singular present indicative of... |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁ēs- | to be |