Where does “particle” come from?

Particle comes from Middle French particule, meaning a small part or portion.

particle (English): A very small piece of matter, a fragment;...

Definitions

  1. A very small piece of matter, a fragment;...

Ancestry of “particle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchparticule—
2Latinparticulasmall part, particle
3Latinparspart, side, piece, share; some; faction
4Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “particle”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →