Where does “member” come from?

Member comes from Middle English membre, from Old French membre, from Latin membrum, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots related to measuring or dividing body parts.

member (English): One who officially belongs to a group; A part of...

Definitions

  1. One who officially belongs to a group; A part of...

Ancestry of “member”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishmembre—
2Old Frenchmembrelimb
3Latinmembrumlimb of the body; member; the penis; a portion,...
4Proto-Italicmemzrom—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmḗmsflesh, meat
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmems-flesh, meat
7Proto-Indo-Europeanme-ms-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanmes-—

Words derived from “member”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European mes- →