Where does “cifre” come from?

cifre (Middle English) comes from Old French cyfre, from Medieval Latin cifra, from Arabic صِفْر, from Sanskrit शून्य, from Proto-Indo-European ḱówH-.

cifre (Middle English): The mathematical symbol or figure 0, representing...

Definitions

  1. The mathematical symbol or figure 0, representing...

Ancestry of “cifre”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchcyfre—
2Medieval Latincifrazero, numeral; numeral, cipher; zero
3Arabicصِفْرzero, nothing, empty, void; nothing, cipher;...
4Sanskritशून्यzero; cipher, cypher; blank, deserted
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱówH-—

Words derived from “cifre”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱówH- →Every word from Sanskrit शून्य →Every word from Arabic صِفْر →
cifre — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer