Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unstable” come from?

Unstable comes from English un- plus stable, which derives from Latin stabilis (able to stand), from the Proto-Indo-European root steh₂- meaning to stand or be firm.

unstable (English): Having a strong tendency to change; Fluctuating;...

Definitions

  1. Having a strong tendency to change; Fluctuating;...

Ancestry of “unstable”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstableA building, wing or dependency set apart and...
2Middle Englishstablestable; Alternative form of stablie; Alternative...
3Anglo-Normanstable—
4LatinstabilisThat stands firm; firm, steadfast, steady, sure,...
5Latinstarepresent active infinitive of stō; stand; to be
6LatinstoI stand; I stay, remain; I am
7Proto-Italicstaēōstand
8Proto-Indo-Europeansth₂éh₁yeti—
9Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-—

Words derived from “unstable”

  • unstably
  • unstableness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- →