Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “victimization” come from?

Victimization comes from English victim plus the suffix -ize, from Latin victima, traced to Proto-Indo-European weyk-, meaning to consecrate or sacrifice.

victimization (English): An act that victimizes or exploits someone;...

Definitions

  1. An act that victimizes or exploits someone;...

Ancestry of “victimization”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishvictimOne that is harmed—killed, injured, subjected to...
2Middle Frenchvictime—
3Latinvictimasacrificial victim
4Proto-Indo-Europeanweyḱ-to enter in; to settle; settlement
5Proto-Indo-Europeanwey-to wither; fade; to move, go ahead; to be strong;...

Words derived from “victimization”

  • victimisation
  • revictimization
  • secondary victimization
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wey- →