Where does “subprime” come from?
Subprime derives from Latin sub combined with Latin primus, which traces to Proto-Indo-European per-, meaning "forward" or "first," with the prefix sub- denoting position below or secondary rank.
subprime (English): Less than prime; inferior; Designating a loan ...
Definitions
- Less than prime; inferior; Designating a loan ...
Ancestry of “subprime”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | Prime | — |
| 2 | French | prime | reward; prize; bonus; premium |
| 3 | Old French | prim | — |
| 4 | Latin | prīmus | — |
| 5 | Latin | prīsmos | — |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | priisemos | foremost, first |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | per- | before, in front; first; to go through |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥tós | passed , crossed |