Where does “massive” come from?
Massive derives from Middle English massif, from Middle French massif, from Latin massa meaning a lump or heap, from Ancient Greek μᾶζα, related to μάσσω meaning to knead or compress, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European meh₂ǵ-.
massive (English): Very large in size or extent; Very large or bulky...
Definitions
- Very large in size or extent; Very large or bulky...
Ancestry of “massive”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | massif | weighty, massy, weighing very much; massive,... |
| 2 | Middle French | massif | — |
| 3 | Latin | massa | mass, bulk; load, burden; dough |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | μᾶζα | barley-bread or cake |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | μάσσω | to handle, work with my hands, knead; to wipe |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mh₂ǵyéti | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | meh₂ǵ- | to knead, stroke |