Where does “prelegal” come from?
prelegal (English) comes from English legal, from Latin lēgālis, from Latin lēx, from Proto-Italic lēg-, from Proto-Indo-European leǵ-s, from Proto-Indo-European leǵ- — to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to...
prelegal (English): In preparation for study at a law school; prelaw
Definitions
- In preparation for study at a law school; prelaw
Ancestry of “prelegal”, step by step
prelegal traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English legal
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | legal | Relating to the law or to lawyers; Having its... |
| 2 | Latin | lēgālis | legal |
| 3 | Latin | lēx | a proposition or motion for a law made to the people by a magistrate, a bill |
| 4 | Proto-Italic | lēg- | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ-s | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | leǵ- | to gather, collect, with derivatives meaning to... |
via English pre
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pre | Before; Precum, Cowper's fluid, pre-ejaculate; To... |
| 2 | Latin | prae | before; in front; in front of |
| 3 | Proto-Italic | prai | before; in front of |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | preh₂- | before, in front |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |