Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “subconscious” come from?

Subconscious comes from English sub- combined with conscious, which derives from Latin conscius, from con- meaning "with" and a root meaning "to know."

subconscious (English): Partially conscious; Below the level of...

Definitions

  1. Partially conscious; Below the level of...

Ancestry of “subconscious”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconsciousAlert, awake; with one's mental faculties active;...
2Latinconsciusconscious; aware , privy; guilty
3Latinconsciō—
4Latincōn-—
5Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
6Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
7Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt—
11Germankitt—
12Old High Germankuti—
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
16Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “subconscious”

  • subconsciously
  • subconsciousness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →