Where does “contrepoint” come from?
contrepoint (French) comes from French point, from Middle French poinct, from Old French point, from Latin pūnctum, from Latin punctus, from Latin -tus, from Proto-Italic -tus, from Proto-Indo-European -tus — Derives action nouns from verb roots.
contrepoint (French): counterpoint
Definitions
- counterpoint
Ancestry of “contrepoint”, step by step
contrepoint traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via French point
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | point | point; full stop, period; stitch pattern |
| 2 | Middle French | poinct | point; not |
| 3 | Old French | point | a sting; a prick; moment; time; dot |
| 4 | Latin | pūnctum | point |
| 5 | Latin | punctus | pricked, punctured, pierced, having been pricked;... |
| 6 | Latin | -tus | Forms the past participle of verbs; Forms... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -tus | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -tus | Derives action nouns from verb roots |
via French contre
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | contre | against; as against; in exchange for |
| 2 | Italian | contro | against; con; counter |
| 3 | Italian | forza | force; strength; ! |
| 4 | Latin | fortia | nominative neuter plural of fortis; accusative... |
| 5 | Latin | fortis | strong, powerful; firm, resolute, steadfast,... |
| 6 | Old Latin | forctis | strong |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | forktis | strong, robust |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰerǵʰ- | to rise; high, lofty; hill, mountain |