Where does “valid” come from?

Valid comes from Middle French valide, from Latin validus meaning strong or powerful, formed with the suffix -idus from Proto-Italic walēō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁-.

valid (English): Well grounded or justifiable, pertinent;...

Definitions

  1. Well grounded or justifiable, pertinent;...

Ancestry of “valid”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Frenchvalidehealthy, sound, in good order
2Latinvalidusstrong; healthy, well; worthy
3Latinvaleōto have strength, influence, power; to avail
4Proto-Italicwalēōto be strong
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂wl̥h₁éh₁yeti—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool

Words derived from “valid”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- →
valid — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer