Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “concubine” come from?

concubine (French) comes from Latin concubina, from Latin concumbō, from Latin cōn-, from Latin cum, from Old Latin com, from Proto-Italic kom, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

concubine (French): cohabitant, female domestic partner; concubine

Definitions

  1. cohabitant, female domestic partner; concubine

Ancestry of “concubine”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinconcubinaconcubine
2Latinconcumbō—
3Latincōn-—
4Latincumwith, along with; at; -fold
5Old LatincomAlternative form of cum
6Proto-Italickomwith, along, at
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →