Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “misconstruction” come from?

Misconstruction comes from Middle English mis- combined with Latin construo, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European mey-, with the prefix con- intensifying the construction sense.

misconstruction (English): A misunderstanding or misinterpretation resulting...

Definitions

  1. A misunderstanding or misinterpretation resulting...

Ancestry of “misconstruction”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconstructionThe process of constructing; Anything that has...
2Middle Englishconstruction—
3Old Frenchconstruction—
4Latincōnstructiō—
5Latincōnstruō—
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →