Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “multilateralism” come from?

Multilateralism derives from English multilateral, from Latin lateralis meaning "of the side," from Latin latus meaning "side," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots related to breadth and extension.

multilateralism (English): Unbiased trade between nations, in contrast to...

Definitions

  1. Unbiased trade between nations, in contrast to...

Ancestry of “multilateralism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmultilateralHaving many sides or points of view; Involving...
2Englishmulti-More than one; pertaining to more than one thing;...
3EnglishmultiA multituberculate; Neolamprologus multifasciatus
4EnglishmultituberculateHaving molars with multiple rows of cusps; Any of...
5EnglishtuberculateHaving tubercles; Tubercular
6Latintuberculatuswarty, tuberculate
7Latintūberculum—
8Latintūber—
9Proto-Italictūβos—
10Proto-Indo-Europeantewh₂-to swell; to crowd; to be strong
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tewh₂- →