Where does “netizen” come from?
netizen (English) comes from English Net, from Middle English net, from Anglo-Norman neit, from Old French net, from Vulgar Latin nittus, from Latin nitidus, from Latin nitere, from Latin niteo.
netizen (English): A member of the community of Internet users
Definitions
- A member of the community of Internet users
Ancestry of “netizen”, step by step
netizen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Net
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Net | the Internet |
| 2 | Middle English | net | worthy, good, pure, fine, elegant |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | neit | good, desireable, clean |
| 4 | Old French | net | neat, decent |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | nittus | — |
| 6 | Latin | nitidus | shining, polished, glittering; handsome,... |
| 7 | Latin | nitere | second-person singular future active indicative... |
| 8 | Latin | niteo | I am radiant, shine, look bright, glitter,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ney- | to shine; to be aroused, shine; to be excited |
| 10 | Cebuano | -hi | — |
via English citizen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | citizen | A resident of a city or town, especially one with... |
| 2 | Middle English | citeseyn | A freeman or burgher: a legally-recognized member... |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | citesain | burgher; city-dweller |
| 4 | Old French | citeain | — |
| 5 | Old French | cité | city |
| 6 | Latin | cīvitās | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | keiwis | society; citizen |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱey- | to be lying down; to settle |