Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nondefamatory” come from?

nondefamatory (English) comes from English defamatory, from Middle French diffamatoire, from Medieval Latin diffamatorius, from Latin diffamatus, from Latin diffamo, from Latin dis-, from Latin calceus, from Latin calx — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

nondefamatory (English): Not defamatory

Definitions

  1. Not defamatory

Ancestry of “nondefamatory”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishdefamatorydamaging to someone's reputation, especially if...
2Middle Frenchdiffamatoire—
3Medieval Latindiffamatorius
4Latindiffamatusdefamed, maligned
5LatindiffamoI spread an unfavorable report; I defame, malign,...
6Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
7Latincalceusshoe
8Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
9Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →