Where does “sexy” come from?
Sexy derives from English sex, which comes from English sect, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European swéḱs meaning to cut or divide.
sexy (English): Having sex appeal; suggestive of sex; That can...
Definitions
- Having sex appeal; suggestive of sex; That can...
Ancestry of “sexy”, step by step
sexy traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English sex
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sex | A category into which sexually-reproducing... |
| 2 | English | sect | An offshoot of a larger religion; a group sharing... |
| 3 | Middle English | secte | A variety or sort; a category with a... |
| 4 | Old French | secte | a sect in philosophy or religion |
| 5 | Late Latin | secta | a sect in philosophy or religion, a school,... |
| 6 | Latin | sequi | present active infinitive of sequor; follow, come... |
| 7 | Latin | sequor | I follow, come or go after |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | sekʷōr | follow, come/go after |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | sékʷetor | to be following |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | sekʷ- | to follow; to see; to say |