Where does “nation-state” come from?
nation-state (English) comes from English nation, from Middle English nacioun, from Old French nacion, from Latin nātiō, from Latin nātus, from Latin gnātus, from Proto-Italic gnātos, from Proto-Indo-European ǵn̥h₁tós — to produce, to beget, to give birth.
nation-state (English): A political entity (a state) associated with a common national identity (historically, culturally, or ethnically; as with a nation) and a sovereign territorial unit
Definitions
- A political entity (a state) associated with a common national identity (historically, culturally, or ethnically; as with a nation) and a sovereign territorial unit
Ancestry of “nation-state”, step by step
nation-state traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English nation
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | nation | A historically constituted, stable community of... |
| 2 | Middle English | nacioun | nation, country; people, race, tribe; People with... |
| 3 | Old French | nacion | birth; nation |
| 4 | Latin | nātiō | birth |
| 5 | Latin | nātus | born, arisen, made |
| 6 | Latin | gnātus | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | gnātos | born |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵn̥h₁tós | begotten, produced |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵenh₁- | to produce, to beget, to give birth |
via English State
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | State | A current governing polity; The current governing... |
| 2 | Middle English | stat | condition |
| 3 | Old French | estat | state; government; condition |
| 4 | Latin | stātus | fixed, set, having been set |
| 5 | Latin | stō | to stand |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | staēō | stand |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sth₂éh₁yeti | to stand |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | *steh₂- | — |