Where does “uncharacteristically” come from?
Uncharacteristically derives from English characteristic, from Ancient Greek χαρακτηριστικός, from χαρακτηρίζω meaning to engrave or mark, from χαρακτήρ meaning an engraved mark or distinctive feature, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning to mark or engrave.
uncharacteristically (English): In an uncharacteristic manner
Definitions
- In an uncharacteristic manner
Ancestry of “uncharacteristically”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ally | used with adjectives ending in -ic |
| 2 | English | ahistoric | Synonym of ahistorical |
| 3 | English | historic | Very important; noteworthy: having importance or... |
| 4 | Latin | historicus | historical |
| 5 | Latin | historia | history; account; story |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορία | inquiry, examination, systematic observation,... |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἱστορέω | to inquire, ask; to examine, observe; to record,... |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | ἵστωρ | one who knows law and right, judge; witness; a... |
| 9 | Proto-Hellenic | wístōr | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | wéydtōr | one who has seen, one who knows |
| 11 | Indo-European | *weyd- | — |