Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “diffido” come from?

diffido (Latin) comes from Latin dis-, from Latin calceus, from Latin calx, from Ancient Greek χάλιξ — small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble.

Ancestry of “diffido”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latindis-asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;...
2Latincalceusshoe
3Latincalxlimestone; chalk; the finish line
4Ancient Greekχάλιξsmall stone, pebble; gravel, rubble
Every word from Ancient Greek χάλιξ →