Where does “ornamental” come from?
Ornamental comes from English ornament, from Latin ornamentum meaning "equipment or adornment," derived from Latin ordo meaning "order," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂er-.
ornamental (English): Serving as an ornament; having no purpose other...
Definitions
- Serving as an ornament; having no purpose other...
Ancestry of “ornamental”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ornament | An element of decoration; that which embellishes... |
| 2 | Middle English | ornament | — |
| 3 | Old French | ornement | ornament |
| 4 | Latin | ornāmentum | equipment, apparatus, furniture |
| 5 | Latin | ornō | to furnish, equip, outfit, prepare |
| 6 | Latin | ōrdnō | — |
| 7 | Latin | ōrdō | a methodical series, arrangement, or order; regular line, row, or series |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | ored(h)- | to arrange |