Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “bellum” come from?

bellum (Latin) comes from Latin bellus, from Latin villus, from Latin vellus, from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- — to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool.

bellum (Latin): war; nominative neuter singular of bellus;...

Definitions

  1. war; nominative neuter singular of bellus;...

Ancestry of “bellum”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinbellusbeautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,...
2Latinvillushair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair
3LatinvellusThe wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The...
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂welh₁-to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool

Words derived from “bellum”

  • reveal
  • rebellion
  • revealing
  • rebel
  • Belle
  • rebellious
  • belligerent
  • Belinda
  • revel
  • belle
  • revelry
  • Bellevue
  • rebelling
  • Belleville
  • rebelliousness
  • revealer
  • belligerently
  • rebelliously
  • revealingly
  • reveller
  • unrevealing
  • reb
  • Labelle
  • revealeth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂welh₁- →