Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “premium” come from?

Premium derives from Latin praemium, literally "what is taken before," combining Latin prae with a root from Proto-Indo-European per- meaning "forward" or "through."

premium (English): Superior in quality; higher in price or value;...

Definitions

  1. Superior in quality; higher in price or value;...

Ancestry of “premium”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpraemiumprofit derived from booty, booty; profit,...
2Latinprae-before; in front; in charge
3Proto-Italicprai-—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “premium”

  • superpremium
  • nonpremium
  • premiate
  • præmium
  • premiumization
  • premiumisation
  • subpremium
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →