Where does “root” come from?

root (English) comes from Middle English rote, from Old French rote, from Latin rupta, from Latin ruptus, from Latin rumpō, from Proto-Indo-European Hrunépti, from Proto-Indo-European Hrewp-, from Proto-Indo-European Hrew- — to tear out, dig out, open, acquire.

root (English): The part of a plant, generally underground, that...

Definitions

  1. The part of a plant, generally underground, that...

Ancestry of “root”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishroteThe root; The foundation or base of a...
2Old Frenchroteroute, path
3Latinruptanominative feminine singular of ruptus;...
4Latinruptusbroken; ruptured, burst
5Latinrumpōto break, burst, tear, rend, rupture; break asunder, force open
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrunéptito be breaking
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire

Words derived from “root”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrew- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrewp- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrunépti →