Where does “relatively” come from?
Relatively comes from English relate, Middle French relatif, Latin -ivus, and Proto-Indo-European bʰer-, meaning to carry or bear.
relatively (English): Proportionally, in relation to some larger scale...
Definitions
- Proportionally, in relation to some larger scale...
Ancestry of “relatively”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | relative | Connected to or depending on something else;... |
| 2 | Middle French | relatif | — |
| 3 | Latin | relātīvus | relative, not absolute; having relation to or dependence on something else |
| 4 | Latin | relātus | (having been) driven or carried back |
| 5 | Latin | referō | to bear, bring, drive, or carry back, off, or away |
| 6 | Latin | rĕ- | back, backwards |
| 7 | Latin | prōdūcō | to lead or bring forth, forward or out |
| 8 | Latin | prō- | forward direction, forward movement |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | pro- see the Latin entry for further meanings |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |