Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “preposition” come from?

Preposition comes from Middle English preposicioun, from Latin praepositio, derived from the root meaning "to place before."

preposition (English): Any of a class of non-inflecting words typically...

Definitions

  1. Any of a class of non-inflecting words typically...

Ancestry of “preposition”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishPosition—
2Middle EnglishposiciounPosition or location on the body; A announcement...
3Old Frenchposicion—
4Latinpositiō—
5Latin-tiō—
6Latindissertātiō—
7Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
8Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
9Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
10Latincalceusshoe
11Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
12Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “preposition”

  • prepositions
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →