Where does “precinct” come from?
Precinct derives from Middle English precinct, from Medieval Latin precinctum, from Latin praecinctum, the past participle of praecingo, meaning to gird or bind about, from prae- meaning before, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European preh₂- meaning to grasp.
precinct (English): An enclosed space having defined limits, normally...
Definitions
- An enclosed space having defined limits, normally...
Ancestry of “precinct”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | precinct | — |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | precinctum | — |
| 3 | Latin | praecinctum | nominative neuter singular of praecīnctus;... |
| 4 | Latin | praecingō | to gird about |
| 5 | Latin | prae- | before; in front; in charge |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | prai- | pre-, before |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |