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

  1. Arranged in five vertical rows

Ancestry of “quinquefarious”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinferōto bear; to carry
2Proto-Italicferōcarry, bear
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰéretito be carrying
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰēr-shiny, light brown
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti →Every word from Proto-Italic ferō →