Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “retrospective” come from?

Retrospective derives from Latin retrospectivus, formed from Latin retro (backward) and Latin re- (again) combined with Latin retrospectum (looked back upon), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wert- and Proto-Indo-European wer- (to turn).

retrospective (English): Of, relating to, or contemplating the past;...

Definitions

  1. Of, relating to, or contemplating the past;...

Ancestry of “retrospective”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinretrospectus
2LatinretrospicioI look back at
3Latinretrō—
4Latindūcere—
5Proto-Italicdoukōlead
6Proto-Indo-Europeandéwketi—
7Proto-Indo-Europeandewk-to pull, to draw; to lead

Words derived from “retrospective”

  • retrospectively
  • retrospectiveness
  • miniretrospective
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dewk- →