Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “sayableness” come from?

sayableness (English) comes from English sayable, from English say, from English assay, from Middle English assay, from Anglo-Norman assaier, from Old French essai, from Late Latin exagium, from Latin exigō — to drive.

sayableness (English): Quality of being sayable

Definitions

  1. Quality of being sayable

Ancestry of “sayableness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsayableCapable of being pronounced or uttered;...
2EnglishsayTo pronounce; To recite; To tell, either verbally...
3EnglishassayTrial, attempt; Examination and determination;...
4Middle EnglishassayExamining; investigation, looking into, research;...
5Anglo-NormanassaierAlternative form of essaier
6Old Frenchessaitrial
7Late Latinexagiumweight; weighing, testing on the balance;...
8Latinexigō—
9Latinagō—
10Proto-Italicagōdrive; push, impel; do, act
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éǵetito be driving
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eǵ-to drive
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eǵ- →