Where does “temerity” come from?
Temerity comes from French témérité, from Latin temeritās, ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European roots forming abstract nouns of quality and state.
temerity (English): Reckless boldness; foolish bravery; An act or...
Definitions
- Reckless boldness; foolish bravery; An act or...
Ancestry of “temerity”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ity | Used to form a noun from an adjective;... |
| 2 | Middle English | -ite | — |
| 3 | Old French | -ité | -ity |
| 4 | Latin | -itās | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | -teh₂ts | Used to form nouns representing state of being |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -teh₂ | Used to form nouns representing state of being |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -tós | Creates verbal adjectives from verb stems |