Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “practise” come from?

Practise comes from Middle English practisen, from Middle French pratiser, from Latin practizo, derived from the adjective practico, which developed from practica, the feminine form of the Ancient Greek πρακτικός meaning practical or relating to action.

practise (English): To repeat as a way of improving one's skill in...

Definitions

  1. To repeat as a way of improving one's skill in...

Ancestry of “practise”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishpractizen—
2Middle Frenchpratiser—
3Frenchpratiquerto do; to practise
4Frenchpratiqueapplied; concerning action or intervention of...
5Middle Frenchpractique—
6Latinprāctica—
7Ancient Greekπρακτικήpractice, experience
8Ancient GreekπρακτικόςOf, pertaining to, or appropriate for action; Fit...
9Ancient GreekπράσσωI do, practice
10Proto-Hellenicprā́ťťō—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥h₂-k-yé-ti—
12Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “practise”

  • practiser
  • practicer
  • practiseth
  • practisest
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →