Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “optimum” come from?

Optimum comes from Latin optimus, superlative of bonus, from Latin duonus, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots h₃ep- and dew-.

optimum (English): The best or most favorable condition, or the...

Definitions

  1. The best or most favorable condition, or the...

Ancestry of “optimum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinoptimusbest; very good
2LatinOpsearth goddess, fertility deity
3Latinoscenany bird by whose song cries augurs divined...
4Latinopscen—
5Latinob-towards; against
6Latinobolusobolus
7Ancient Greekὀβολόςobol, obolus, used at Athens as both a weight and...
8Ancient Greekὀβελόςa spit, rod; a horizontal line
9Ancient Greekβέλοςmissile, arrow, dart; weapon; something quickly...
10Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷélHos—
11Proto-Indo-EuropeangʷelH-to throw, reach, pierce; to hit by throwing

Words derived from “optimum”

  • suboptimum
  • optima
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷelH- →