Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “specifier” come from?

Specifier comes from English specify, which derives from Old French -er and Latin -are, ultimately from Proto-Italic -os through Latin -arius and -us.

specifier (English): A person or thing that specifies; A component of...

Definitions

  1. A person or thing that specifies; A component of...

Ancestry of “specifier”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
2Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
3Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
4Latin-āre—
5Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
6Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
7Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
9Chichewaiyehe, she
Every word from Chichewa iye →