Where does “relativism” come from?
Relativism comes from English relative combined with the Ancient Greek suffix -ισμός, from Ancient Greek -μός, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-.
relativism (English): The theory, especially in ethics or aesthetics,...
Definitions
- The theory, especially in ethics or aesthetics,...
Ancestry of “relativism”, step by step
relativism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English relative
| 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 |
via French relativisme
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | relativisme | relativism (theory that truth and moral values are relative) |