Where does “irrevocably” come from?
Irrevocably derives from Latin irrevocabilis, combining the prefix ir- with revocabilis, ultimately tracing through Old English -līċ and Proto-Germanic -līkaz to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "body" or "form."
irrevocably (English): In an irrevocable manner; beyond recall; in a...
Definitions
- In an irrevocable manner; beyond recall; in a...
Ancestry of “irrevocably”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | irrevocable | Unable to be retracted or reversed; final |
| 2 | French | irrévocable | irrevocable |
| 3 | Latin | irrevocābilis | irrevocable |
| 4 | Latin | revocabilis | revocable, withdrawable, recallable |
| 5 | Latin | revocō | to recall (troops, etc.), to call back |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |