Where does “underclass” come from?
Underclass derives from Middle English under- combined with Latin classis, which traces back through Proto-Indo-European kelh₁-, n̥dʰér, and h₁en, with the root ultimately relating to calling or summoning.
underclass (English): The poorest class of people in a given society
Definitions
- The poorest class of people in a given society
Ancestry of “underclass”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | class | A group, collection, category or set sharing... |
| 2 | French | classe | class, type, group; "Une classe de conscrits"... |
| 3 | Italian | classe | class; classroom; style |
| 4 | Spanish | clase | lecture; class; kind, sort, type |
| 5 | Portuguese | classe | class, kind; class; elegance; class |
| 6 | German | klasse | great, awesome |
| 7 | Russian | класс | class |
| 8 | Latin | classis | any one of the five divisions into which Servius... |
| 9 | Proto-Italic | klāssis | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | kelh₁- | to call, cry, summon |