Where does “multiform” come from?
Multiform comes from Latin multus meaning "many" combined with Latin forma meaning "shape," ultimately deriving from Ancient Greek μορφή and Proto-Indo-European per-.
multiform (English): Having more than one shape or appearance; An...
Definitions
- Having more than one shape or appearance; An...
Ancestry of “multiform”, step by step
multiform traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English form
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | form | To do with shape; To do with structure or... |
| 2 | Middle English | forme | first; shape, figure, manner, bench, frame, seat,... |
| 3 | Old English | forma | first |
| 4 | Old English | fore | before; forepart, front |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | furai | before, in front of; before, in front |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
via French multiforme
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | multiforme | multiform |
| 2 | French | multi- | multi |
| 3 | Latin | multus | much; many |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | moltos | much, many |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ml̥tós | crumbled, crumpled |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |