Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “punishability” come from?

punishability (English) comes from English punish, from Middle English punischen, from Old French puniss-, from Old French punir, from Latin puniō, from Latin poenā, from Ancient Greek ποινή, from Proto-Hellenic kʷoinā́ — to pay; to avenge.

punishability (English): The characteristic of being punishable; the...

Definitions

  1. The characteristic of being punishable; the...

Ancestry of “punishability”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpunishTo cause to suffer for crime or misconduct, to...
2Middle Englishpunischen—
3Old Frenchpuniss-—
4Old Frenchpunirto punish
5Latinpuniō—
6Latinpoenā—
7Ancient Greekποινήblood money, wergeld; fine, ransom, penalty,...
8Proto-Hellenickʷoinā́—
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷoynéh₂payment; punishment, vengeance
10Proto-Indo-Europeankʷey-to pay; to avenge
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷey- →