Where does “respective” come from?
Respective comes from Medieval Latin respectivus, formed from the Latin suffix -ivus added to respecto, from re- and specio, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European speḱ- meaning to look or observe.
respective (English): Relating to particular persons or things, each to...
Definitions
- Relating to particular persons or things, each to...
Ancestry of “respective”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Medieval Latin | respectivus | concerning |
| 2 | Latin | respectus | respected; looking back; regard, consideration,... |
| 3 | Latin | respiciō | — |
| 4 | Latin | rĕ- | — |
| 5 | Latin | prōdūcō | — |
| 6 | Latin | prō- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | *pro- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pro- | toward, forward |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | por- | to give birth; forward, through; going, passage |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |
Words derived from “respective”