Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unconstitutional” come from?

Unconstitutional comes from English constitution, which derives from Latin con- meaning "together" combined with Latin constituere, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots.

unconstitutional (English): contrary to or violative of the constitution of a...

Definitions

  1. contrary to or violative of the constitution of a...

Ancestry of “unconstitutional”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishconstitutionalBelonging to, or inherent in, the constitution or...
2EnglishconstitutionThe act, or process of setting something up, or...
3Middle EnglishconstituciounAn ecclesiastical decree or rule, especially one...
4Old Frenchconstitucion—
5Latincōnstitūtiō—
6Latincōnstituō—
7Latincōn-—
8Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
9Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
10Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
11Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
12Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
13Middle Englishkyt—
14Germankitt—
15Old High Germankuti—
16Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
17Proto-Germanickweduzresin
18Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak

Words derived from “unconstitutional”

  • unconstitutionally
  • unconstitutionality
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gʷet- →