Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “research” come from?

Research derives from Old French recerchier, formed from the prefix re- and Old French cerchier (itself from Latin circum and Proto-Indo-European (s)ker-, meaning to turn or circle), originally denoting a thorough search or investigation.

research (English): Diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise...

Definitions

  1. Diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise...

Ancestry of “research”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchrechercherto search for, to look for; to search again, to...
2Old Frenchrecerchierto search; to look for
3Old Frenchre-re-
4Latinrĕ-—
5Latinprōdūcō—
6Latinprō-—
7Proto-Italic*pro-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpro-toward, forward
9Proto-Indo-Europeanpor-to give birth; forward, through; going, passage
10Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
11Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “research”

  • researcher
  • researching
  • researchable
  • nonresearch
  • coresearcher
  • bioresearch
  • researchability
  • unresearchable
  • nonresearcher
  • researchee
  • proresearch
  • antiresearch
  • researchful
  • researchy
  • researchist
  • nonresearching
  • bioresearcher
  • unresearchability
  • neuroresearch
  • interresearcher
  • research
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →