Where does “propose” come from?
Propose comes from Middle English proposen, from Old French propos, from Latin propono, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰuH- meaning to place or put.
propose (English): To suggest a plan, course of action, etc; To ask...
Definitions
- To suggest a plan, course of action, etc; To ask...
Ancestry of “propose”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | proposen | — |
| 2 | Old French | propos | purpose; aim; goal; intention |
| 3 | Old French | proposer | to propose; to place on top of |
| 4 | Latin | prōpōnō | to set forth, to put forth, to lay out |
| 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 |