Where does “provisionally” come from?
Provisionally derives from Middle French provisionnal, which combines Old English -līċ (suffix meaning "like" or "in the manner of"), traced through Proto-Germanic -līkaz and galīkaz to Proto-Indo-European roots ḱóm and līg-.
provisionally (English): In a provisional way; temporarily
Definitions
- In a provisional way; temporarily
Ancestry of “provisionally”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | provisional | Temporary, but with the intention of eventually... |
| 2 | English | provision | An item of goods or supplies, especially food,... |
| 3 | Middle English | provisioun | Preparations, a readying; something which is set... |
| 4 | Old French | provisïon | — |
| 5 | Latin | prōvīsiō | foreknowledge |
| 6 | Latin | -tiō | tion, -ation, -ing |
| 7 | Latin | dissertātiō | (spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition |
| 8 | Latin | dissertus | arranged, disposed; explained |
| 9 | Latin | disserere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 10 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 11 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 12 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 13 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |