Where does “circa” come from?
circa (Latin) comes from Latin circum, from Latin circus, from Ancient Greek κρίκος, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ḱer- — dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth.
Ancestry of “circa”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | circum | about, around; in a circle, all around, on both... |
| 2 | Latin | circus | a circular line or orbit; circle, ring; a... |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | κρίκος | ring |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)ḱer- | dung, manure, filth; manure, dung, filth |