Where does “prepublic” come from?

prepublic (English) comes from English public, from Middle English publik, from Middle French public, from Latin pūblicus, from Old Latin poplicus, from Latin pōpulus, from Proto-Italic poplos — army.

prepublic (English): Prior to availability to the general public;...

Definitions

  1. Prior to availability to the general public;...

Ancestry of “prepublic”, step by step

prepublic traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English public

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpublicAble to be seen or known by everyone; open to...
2Middle Englishpublik
3Middle Frenchpublic
4Latinpūblicusof or belonging to the people, state, or community
5Old LatinpoplicusAlternative form of publicus
6Latinpōpulusa people, nation
7Proto-Italicpoplosarmy

via English pre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpreBefore; Precum, Cowper's fluid, pre-ejaculate; To...
2Latinpraebefore; in front; in front of
3Proto-Italicpraibefore; in front of
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed
Every word from Proto-Italic poplos
prepublic — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer