Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “quondam” come from?

Quondam comes from Latin quondam, derived from Latin cum meaning "with," through a sound change that produced the adverbial form meaning "at one time" or "formerly."

quondam (English): Former; once; at one time

Definitions

  1. Former; once; at one time

Ancestry of “quondam”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinquondamat a certain time, at one time, once, heretofore,...
2Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
3Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
4Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
7Middle Englishkyt—
8Germankitt—
9Old High Germankuti—
10Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
11Proto-Germanickweduzresin
12Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
13Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
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