Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “transcontinental” come from?

Transcontinental comes from English continental, from English continent, from Latin continere meaning "to hold together," from Latin con- meaning "with."

transcontinental (English): Crossing or spanning a continent; a...

Definitions

  1. Crossing or spanning a continent; a...

Ancestry of “transcontinental”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcontinentalOf or relating to a continent or continents; of...
2EnglishcontinentEach of the main continuous land-masses on the...
3Latincontinēns—
4LatincontineoI hold or keep together/close, surround, contain;...
5Latincōn-—
6Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
7Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
8Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
11Middle Englishkyt—
12Germankitt—
13Old High Germankuti—
14Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
15Proto-Germanickweduzresin
16Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
17Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “transcontinental”

  • transcontinentally
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →