Where does “modal” come from?
Modal comes from Middle French modal, from Latin modalis, an adjective derived from Latin modus meaning measure or manner, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European med-.
modal (English): of, or relating to a mode or modus; of, relating...
Definitions
- of, or relating to a mode or modus; of, relating...
Ancestry of “modal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle French | modal | — |
| 2 | Latin | modalis | pertaining to a mode |
| 3 | Latin | modus | measure; bound, limit; manner , way , method |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mēd- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | med- | to measure; to give advice; healing |
Words derived from “modal”