Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “suspensory” come from?

Suspensory is formed from English suspense with the English suffix -y, which derives from Middle English -y, from Middle French -ie, from Latin -ia, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -kos.

suspensory (English): Held in suspension; Holding in suspension;...

Definitions

  1. Held in suspension; Holding in suspension;...

Ancestry of “suspensory”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsuspenseThe condition of being suspended; cessation for a...
2Middle Englishsuspense—
3Old Frenchsuspenspostponement; suspension
4Latinsuspensussuspended; anxious; in suspense
5LatinsuspendoI hang up or suspend
6Latinpendēre—
7Latinpendō—
8Proto-Italicpendōhang, put in a hanging position
9Proto-Indo-European(s)péndeti—
10Proto-Indo-European(s)pend-to stretch
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)pend- →