Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “monoculture” come from?

Monoculture derives from English mono- plus culture, which comes from Middle French culture, Ancient Greek χρῶμα, and Latin colo, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- meaning to turn or move around.

monoculture (English): The cultivation of a single crop at a time; A...

Definitions

  1. The cultivation of a single crop at a time; A...

Ancestry of “monoculture”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcultureThe arts, customs, lifestyles, background, and...
2Middle Frenchculturecultivation; culture
3Latincultūra—
4Latincultustilled, cultivated, having been cultivated;...
5Latincoleresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
6LatincoloI till, cultivate the land; I inhabit; I protect,...
7Latinquelo—
8Proto-Italickʷelō—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷéleti—
10Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →