Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “subcategory” come from?

Subcategory derives from English sub- combined with category, which comes from Middle French categorie, from Ancient Greek κατηγορία, meaning a speaking against or accusation.

subcategory (English): With respect to a given category, a more narrow...

Definitions

  1. With respect to a given category, a more narrow...

Ancestry of “subcategory”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcategoryA group, often named or numbered, to which items...
2Frenchcatégoriecategory
3GermanKategoriecategory
4Italiancategoriacategory, topic; class
5Spanishcategoríacategory; standing, regard
6Portuguesecategoriacategory
7Late Latincategoriaclass of predicables; accusation; predicament
8Ancient Greekκατηγορίαcharge, accusation; predication, category
9Ancient Greekκατηγορέωto speak against, especially before judges, to...
10Ancient Greek-έωUsed to form verbs from nouns, adjectives and...
11Proto-Indo-European-éyetiForms causative imperfective verbs from roots;...
12Proto-Indo-European-yetiCreates transitive imperfective verbs from roots
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -yeti →