Where does “reciprocal” come from?
Reciprocal comes from Latin reciprocus, formed from reque proque meaning "back and forth," combining Latin re- with Proto-Indo-European pro- and bʰuH-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per- and pr̥tós.
reciprocal (English): Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly...
Definitions
- Of a feeling, action or such: mutual, uniformly...
Ancestry of “reciprocal”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | reciprocus | back and forth; alternating; reciprocal |
| 2 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 3 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 4 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |