Where does “progressivism” come from?
Progressivism derives from English progressive, combining Ancient Greek -ισμός and -μός with Latin -ivus and pro, tracing back through Proto-Indo-European pro- and bʰuH-, meaning to move forward or grow.
progressivism (English): A political ideology that favours progress...
Definitions
- A political ideology that favours progress...
Ancestry of “progressivism”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | progressive | Favouring or promoting progress; advanced;... |
| 2 | Middle French | progressif | progressive |
| 3 | Latin | prōgressīvus | progressive |
| 4 | Latin | prōgredior | to come, go, or march forth, forward or on; advance, proceed |
| 5 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |