Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nonessential” come from?

Nonessential derives from English nine through Latin nōna, from the Latin adjective suffix -ālis and Latin novem meaning nine, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₁ésti meaning to be.

nonessential (English): Not required; not essential; Something that is...

Definitions

  1. Not required; not essential; Something that is...

Ancestry of “nonessential”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishessentialNecessary; Very important; of high importance;...
2Latinessentialisessential; genitive singular of essentiāle
3Frenchessentielessential; essential; essence, essential part
4Late Latinessentialisessential; genitive singular of essentiāle
5Latinessentiaessence, being
6Latinessepresent infinitive of sum; state, condition;...
7Ancient Greekοὐσίαthat which is one's own, one's substance,...
8Ancient GreekεἰμίTo be, exist; live; To be; it is possible
9Proto-Hellenicehmito be
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ésmifirst-person singular present indicative of...
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ēs-—

Words derived from “nonessential”

  • non-essential
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ēs- →