Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “subdivide” come from?

Subdivide derives from English divide, from Latin sub combined with Latin divido, from Latin dis- and Proto-Indo-European dwís, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dwóh₁ meaning two.

subdivide (English): To divide into smaller sections; To divide...

Definitions

  1. To divide into smaller sections; To divide...

Ancestry of “subdivide”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdivideTo split or separate into two or more parts; To...
2Middle Englishdividen—
3LatindividoI divide, separate; I distribute, apportion; I...
4Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
5Latincalceusshoe
6Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
7Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble

Words derived from “subdivide”

  • subdivider
  • subdividable
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →