Where does “prostitution” come from?
Prostitution derives from Late Latin prostitutio, formed from Latin statuo meaning "to set or place," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots per- and steh₂- meaning "to stand or place."
prostitution (English): Engaging in sexual activity with another person...
Definitions
- Engaging in sexual activity with another person...
Ancestry of “prostitution”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Late Latin | prostitutio | prostitution; dishonoring, profaning |
| 2 | Latin | prostituo | I set up in public; I prostitute; I dishonor |
| 3 | Latin | statuo | I set up, station; I establish, determine, fix; I... |
| 4 | Latin | stātus | fixed, set, having been set |
| 5 | Latin | stō | to stand |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | staēō | stand |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sth₂éh₁yeti | to stand |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | *steh₂- | — |