Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “subcontinental” come from?

subcontinental (English) comes from English subcontinent, from French sous-continent, from French continent, from Latin continēns, from Latin contineo, from Latin cōn-, from Latin cum, from Old Latin com — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

subcontinental (English): Of or pertaining to a subcontinent; Located or...

Definitions

  1. Of or pertaining to a subcontinent; Located or...

Ancestry of “subcontinental”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsubcontinentA large landmass which is either smaller than a...
2Frenchsous-continentsubcontinent
3Frenchcontinentcontinent
4Latincontinēns—
5LatincontineoI hold or keep together/close, surround, contain;...
6Latincōn-—
7Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
8Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
9Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
10Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
11Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
12Middle Englishkyt—
13Germankitt—
14Old High Germankuti—
15Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
16Proto-Germanickweduzresin
17Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
18Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
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