Where does “quinquefarious” come from?
quinquefarious (English) comes from Latin ferō, from Proto-Italic ferō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.
quinquefarious (English): Arranged in five vertical rows
Definitions
- Arranged in five vertical rows
Ancestry of “quinquefarious”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | ferō | — |
| 2 | Proto-Italic | ferō | carry, bear |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |