Where does “previous” come from?

Previous comes from Latin praevius, combining Latin via (way) with a root from Proto-Indo-European preh₂- (to grasp or seize), ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European per- and pr̥tós.

previous (English): Prior; occurring before something else, either in...

Definitions

  1. Prior; occurring before something else, either in...

Ancestry of “previous”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpraeviusgoing before, leading the way
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

Words derived from “previous”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →Every word from Proto-Indo-European per- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European preh₂- →