Where does “semi-precious” come from?
semi-precious (English) comes from English Precious, from Middle English precious, from Old French precios, from Latin pretiōsus, from Latin pretium, from Proto-Italic pretjom, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.
semi-precious (English): Sort of or somewhat precious or valuable. Usually...
Definitions
- Sort of or somewhat precious or valuable. Usually...
Ancestry of “semi-precious”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Precious | — |
| 2 | Middle English | precious | — |
| 3 | Old French | precios | valuable, costly, precious, beloved, also... |
| 4 | Latin | pretiōsus | — |
| 5 | Latin | pretium | worth, price, value, cost; pay, hire, wage,... |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | pretjom | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |