Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “preoperatively” come from?

Preoperatively derives from English preoperative, combining Old English -līċ with Latin prae- meaning "before," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per- meaning "forward" and līg- meaning "to lie."

preoperatively (English): In a preoperative context; before surgery

Definitions

  1. In a preoperative context; before surgery

Ancestry of “preoperatively”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpreoperativePrior to surgery; A transgender person who has...
2EnglishoperativeEffectual or important; Functional, in working...
3Middle Englishoperative—
4Middle Frenchoperatif—
5Latinoperativuscreative, formative
6Latinoperō—
7LatinOpus—
8Ancient GreekὈποῦς—
9Ancient Greekὀπόςjuice, vegetable/plant juice; fig-juice
10Proto-Indo-Europeansokʷósjuice of plants
11Proto-Indo-Europeansekʷ-to follow; to see; to say
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- →