Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unfamiliar” come from?

Unfamiliar derives from English familiar, from Latin familiāris meaning "of one's household," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "one" and "to place or put."

unfamiliar (English): Strange, not familiar; An unfamiliar person; a...

Definitions

  1. Strange, not familiar; An unfamiliar person; a...

Ancestry of “unfamiliar”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfamiliarKnown to one, or generally known; commonplace;...
2Latinfamiliarisof or pertaining to servants; of or pertaining to...
3Latinfamiliafamily; household; A quantity of land adequate...
4Latinfamulusserving, servile; a servant, slave
5Proto-Italicfamelosservile, domestic
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰh₁-m-eló-—
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰeh₁-to do, put, place

Words derived from “unfamiliar”

  • unfamiliarly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁- →