Where does “essayer” come from?
essayer (French) comes from Middle French essayer, from Old French essaiier, from Old French essay, from Late Latin exagium, from Latin exigō, from Latin agō, from Proto-Italic agō, from Proto-Indo-European h₂éǵeti — to drive.
essayer (French): to test, to try on; to try, to attempt
Definitions
- to test, to try on; to try, to attempt
Ancestry of “essayer”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | essayer | to test; to try |
| 2 | Old French | essaiier | — |
| 3 | Old French | essay | — |
| 4 | Late Latin | exagium | weight; weighing, testing on the balance;... |
| 5 | Latin | exigō | to drive out; expel |
| 6 | Latin | agō | to act, to behave |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | agō | drive; push, impel; do, act |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂éǵeti | to be driving |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eǵ- | to drive |