Where does “intimidate” come from?
Intimidate comes from Latin intimidare, formed from the prefix in- and timidus, ultimately tracing through Proto-Indo-European h₁én meaning "in."
intimidate (English): To make timid or afraid; to cause to feel fear or...
Definitions
- To make timid or afraid; to cause to feel fear or...
Ancestry of “intimidate”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | intimidatus | — |
| 2 | Latin | intimidō | to intimidate, render timid, terrify |
| 3 | Latin | timidus | fearful, afraid, apprehensive, timid; cowardly |
| 4 | Latin | timeō | to fear, be afraid of, apprehend, be apprehensive of |
| 5 | Latin | Tīmaeus | — |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | Τῑ́μαιος | — |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | τῑμάω | to pay honor to; to hold in honor; to treat honorably; to honor; to revere |