Where does “pronounce” come from?
Pronounce comes from Old French prononcier, from Latin pronuntiāre meaning "to speak out," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "forward" and "to carry."
pronounce (English): To declare formally, officially or ceremoniously;...
Definitions
- To declare formally, officially or ceremoniously;...
Ancestry of “pronounce”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | pronouncen | To pronounce, utter, say |
| 2 | Old French | prononcier | to say; to speak; to announce; to pronounce |
| 3 | Latin | prōnūntiō | to proclaim, declare, announce |
| 4 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |