Where does “search” come from?
Search comes from Middle English serchen, from Old French cerchier meaning to go around, from Latin circo and circus meaning circle, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sek- meaning to cut or divide.
search (English): An attempt to find something; The act of...
Definitions
- An attempt to find something; The act of...
Ancestry of “search”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | serchen | To search, to try to find; to scour; To research;... |
| 2 | Old French | cerchier | to search; to seek; to look for |
| 3 | Latin | circō | to traverse, go about |
| 4 | Latin | circā | — |
| 5 | Latin | circum | about, around; in a circle, all around, on both... |
| 6 | Latin | circus | a circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | κρίκος | ring |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ḱer- | dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth |