Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “vanquish” come from?

Vanquish comes from Middle English vaynquisshen, from Old French veincre, from Latin vinco meaning "to conquer," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wey- meaning "to overcome."

vanquish (English): To defeat, to overcome

Definitions

  1. To defeat, to overcome

Ancestry of “vanquish”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishvenquysshenTo triumph over a rival military force; to win in...
2Old Frenchveincrealternative infinitive of veintre
3Latinvincō—
4Proto-Italicwinkōto conquer, to overcome
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwi-n-k-—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanweyḱ-to enter in; to settle; settlement
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

Words derived from “vanquish”

  • vancomycin
  • vanquisher
  • vanquishment
  • unvanquishable
  • vanquisheth
  • vanquishest
  • vanquishable
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →