Where does “reciprocate” come from?
Reciprocate comes from Latin reciprocō, formed from reque proque (back and forth), combining re- (back) with pro- (forward) and a root meaning to move or turn.
reciprocate (English): To exchange two things, with both parties giving...
Definitions
- To exchange two things, with both parties giving...
Ancestry of “reciprocate”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | reciproco | dative masculine singular of reciprocus; dative... |
| 2 | Latin | reque proque | back and forth, to and fro |
| 3 | Latin | pro | + "ablative"; for; on behalf of, in the interest... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |