Where does “premenstrual” come from?
Premenstrual comes from English pre- plus menstrual, which derives from Middle English menstruall, from Latin menstrualis, an adjective formed from mensis meaning month plus the suffix -alis.
premenstrual (English): Occurring in the time period during the menstrual...
Definitions
- Occurring in the time period during the menstrual...
Ancestry of “premenstrual”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | menstrual | Of or relating to the menses; Occurring once a... |
| 2 | Middle English | menstruall | — |
| 3 | Latin | menstrualis | Monthly, every month, for a month; Of or... |
| 4 | Latin | menstrua | nominative plural of mēnstruum; accusative plural... |
| 5 | Latin | mēnstruus | Of or pertaining to a month |
| 6 | Latin | bimestris | lasting two months; two months old |
| 7 | Latin | mēnsis | month |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | mēnsis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | mēns | month |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | mḗh₁n̥s | moon; month |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | meh₁- | to measure |