Etymology Explorer › Latin

Where does “meliorare” come from?

meliorare (Latin) comes from Latin melĭor, from Proto-Italic meljōs, from Proto-Indo-European mélyōs, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Ancestry of “meliorare”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinmelĭor—
2Proto-Italicmeljōs—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanmélyōs—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →