Etymology Explorer › Medieval Latin

Where does “sclavus” come from?

sclavus (Medieval Latin) comes from Ancient Greek Σκλάβος, from Ancient Greek Σκλαβηνός, from Proto-Slavic slověninъ, from Proto-Slavic slovo, from Proto-Balto-Slavic ślawas, from Proto-Indo-European ḱléwos, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

sclavus (Medieval Latin): Slav, slave; slave

Definitions

  1. Slav, slave; slave

Ancestry of “sclavus”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ancient GreekΣκλάβοςSlav
2Ancient GreekΣκλαβηνός—
3Proto-SlavicslověninъSlav
4Proto-Slavicslovoword
5Proto-Balto-Slavicślawas—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱléwosfame
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline

Words derived from “sclavus”

  • slave
  • slaves
  • slavery
  • antislavery
  • enslavement
  • enslave
  • slavish
  • slaveholding
  • slaveholder
  • slaving
  • proslavery
  • slavishly
  • esclavage
  • slavocracy
  • enslaver
  • slaveowner
  • slavey
  • slavishness
  • nonslaveholding
  • slavemaster
  • bondslave
  • postslavery
  • slavegirl
  • slavelike
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →