Where does “cite” come from?

cite (Middle English) comes from Old French citet, from Latin cīvitās, from Proto-Italic keiwis, from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- — to be lying down; to settle.

cite (Middle English): city

Definitions

  1. city

Ancestry of “cite”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old FrenchcitetAlternative form of cité
2Latincīvitās—
3Proto-Italickeiwissociety; citizen
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle

Words derived from “cite”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →
cite — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer