Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “occupation” come from?

Occupation comes from Middle English occupacioun, from Middle French occupation, from Latin occupatio (a seizing or taking possession), derived from the Latin verb capio (to take or seize).

occupation (English): An activity or task with which one occupies...

Definitions

  1. An activity or task with which one occupies...

Ancestry of “occupation”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishoccupacioun—
2Middle Frenchoccupation—
3Latinoccupatioseizing, occupying; occupation, employment;...
4Latin-tiō—
5Latindissertātiō—
6Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
7Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
8Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
9Latincalceusshoe
10Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
11Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “occupation”

  • occupational
  • occupationally
  • reoccupation
  • nonoccupational
  • antioccupation
  • disoccupation
  • inoccupation
  • nonoccupationally
  • nonoccupation
  • occupationless
  • ocupacional
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →