Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “propel” come from?

Propel comes from Latin propello, from Latin pello meaning to drive or push, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European pelh₂- meaning to thrust or drive forward.

propel (English): To provide an impetus for motion or physical...

Definitions

  1. To provide an impetus for motion or physical...

Ancestry of “propel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinpropelleresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
2LatinpropelloI drive, push or urge forth or forward; hurl,...
3Latinpro-forward direction, forward movement; action...
4Latinpro+ "ablative"; for; on behalf of, in the interest...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “propel”

  • propeller
  • propellant
  • propellor
  • bipropellant
  • propellent
  • monopropellant
  • propellered
  • propellantless
  • propellerlike
  • propelment
  • propellerless
  • propellable
  • nonpropellant
  • propellentless
  • propeller
  • propell
  • propell
  • propel
  • propeller
  • 프로펠러
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →