Where does “intrinsic” come from?
Intrinsic comes from Middle French intrinsèque, from Latin intrinsecus, combining inter (between) and a form related to Latin volvere (to turn), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European welH- (to turn or roll).
intrinsic (English): Innate, inherent, inseparable from the thing...
Definitions
- Innate, inherent, inseparable from the thing...
Ancestry of “intrinsic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | intrinsèque | — |
| 2 | Latin | intrīnsecus | internally (on the inside) |
| 3 | Latin | inter | between, among; during, while |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁entér | between |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁en | in; in, inside |