Where does “unwinnable” come from?
unwinnable (English) comes from English winnable, from English win, from English wind, from English farm, from Middle English ferme, from Old French ferme, from Medieval Latin ferma, from Latin Firma — to support; to hold.
unwinnable (English): Unable to be won
Definitions
- Unable to be won
Ancestry of “unwinnable”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | winnable | able to be won or achieved |
| 2 | English | win | To conquer, defeat; To reach some destination or... |
| 3 | English | wind | Real or perceived movement of atmospheric air... |
| 4 | English | farm | A place where agricultural and similar activities... |
| 5 | Middle English | ferme | A lease; the renting of land |
| 6 | Old French | ferme | lease; the land leased; farm |
| 7 | Medieval Latin | ferma | Alternative form of firma |
| 8 | Latin | Firma | tax, tribute |
| 9 | Latin | Firmus | strong, powerful |
| 10 | Proto-Italic | fermos | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer-mo-s | holding |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |