Where does “esse” come from?

esse (Latin) comes from Ancient Greek οὐσία, from Ancient Greek εἰμί, from Proto-Hellenic ehmi, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ésmi, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ēs- — to be.

esse (Latin): present infinitive of sum; state, condition;...

Definitions

  1. present infinitive of sum; state, condition;...

Ancestry of “esse”, step by step

esse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Ancient Greek οὐσία

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient Greekοὐσίαthat which is one's own, one's substance,...
2Ancient GreekεἰμίTo be, exist; live; To be; it is possible
3Proto-Hellenicehmito be
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ésmifirst-person singular present indicative of...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ēs-to be

via Latin sūm

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinsūmto be, exist
2Proto-Italicezomto be
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰúHtto become
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanbʰuH-to become, grow, appear

Words derived from “esse”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ēs- →