Where does “missive” come from?

Missive comes from Latin missivus, derived from mittere (to send), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European meytH- meaning to move or send.

missive (English): A written message; a letter, note or memo;...

Definitions

  1. A written message; a letter, note or memo;...

Ancestry of “missive”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmissivus—
2Latinmittōto send, dispatch, cause to go, let go, release, discharge
3Proto-Italicmeitōto put forth, put out
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmeyth₂-to hurt; to exchange, remove; to replace, to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European meyth₂- →Every word from Proto-Italic meitō →Every word from Latin mittō →