Where does “relative” come from?
Relative comes from Middle French relatif, from Late Latin relativus, derived from the Latin suffix -ivus attached to a root meaning "to carry or bring," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-.
relative (English): Connected to or depending on something else;...
Definitions
- Connected to or depending on something else;...
Ancestry of “relative”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | relatif | — |
| 2 | Latin | relātīvus | relative, not absolute; having relation to or dependence on something else |
| 3 | Latin | relātus | (having been) driven or carried back |
| 4 | Latin | referō | to bear, bring, drive, or carry back, off, or away |
| 5 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 6 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 7 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |