Where does “no-win” come from?

no-win (English) comes from English win, from English wind, from English farm, from Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Medieval Latin ferma, from Latin Firma, from Latin Firmus — to support; to hold.

no-win (English): Bound to end in failure

Definitions

  1. Bound to end in failure

Ancestry of “no-win”, step by step

no-win traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English win

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwinTo conquer, defeat; To reach some destination or...
2EnglishwindReal or perceived movement of atmospheric air...
3EnglishfarmA place where agricultural and similar activities...
4Middle EnglishfermeA lease; the renting of land
5Old Frenchfermelease; the land leased; farm
6Medieval LatinfermaAlternative form of firma
7LatinFirmatax, tribute
8LatinFirmusstrong, powerful
9Proto-Italicfermos
10Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-mo-sholding
11Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

via English

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English
2Middle Englishnono
3Old Englishno
4Old Englishnenot; or, and not; "ne... ne..." is used to mean "...
5Old Englisheallescompletely, wholly, entirely; totally,...
6Old English-espossessive marker, indicating that an object...
7Proto-Germanic-asused in formation of adverbs
8Proto-Indo-European-ēsPrimarily forms adjectival bahuvrīhi compounds
9Proto-Indo-European-ess
10Proto-Indo-European-osCreates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer-mo-sEvery word from Proto-Italic fermos