Where does “jeopardy” come from?
Jeopardy comes from Middle English jupartie, from Old French jeu parti, literally meaning "divided game" or "uncertain outcome."
jeopardy (English): Danger of loss, harm, or failure; To jeopardize;...
Definitions
- Danger of loss, harm, or failure; To jeopardize;...
Ancestry of “jeopardy”, step by step
jeopardy traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English jupartie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | jupartie | Jeopardy, danger, peril; a potential of failure;... |
| 2 | Old French | jeu parti | a divided game, i.e. an even game, an even chance |
| 3 | Latin | iocus partītus | — |
| 4 | Latin | iocus | a joke, jest; a form of amusement; pastime, sport |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | jokos | word, saying |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | yokos | word, utterance |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | yek- | to utter |
via Middle English jeopardie
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | jeopardie | Alternative form of jupartie; even chance |