Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unpredictability” come from?

Unpredictability derives from English predict, from Latin dicere meaning "to say," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European deyḱ- meaning "to show," with the suffix -ibilis and prefix un- from Proto-Indo-European ne meaning "not."

unpredictability (English): The quality of being unpredictable; Something...

Definitions

  1. The quality of being unpredictable; Something...

Ancestry of “unpredictability”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpredictabilityThe characteristic of being predictable
2EnglishpredictTo make a prediction: to forecast, foretell, or...
3Frenchprédireto predict, foretell
4Italianpredicareto preach
5Spanishpredicarto preach
6Latinpraedicō—
7Latindīcō—
8Latin-tiō—
9Latindissertātiō—
10Latindissertusarranged, disposed; explained
11Latindissereresecond-person singular future passive indicative...
12Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
13Latincalceusshoe
14Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
15Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →