Where does “filial” come from?
filial (Middle English) comes from Latin filialis, from Latin filia, from Latin filius, from Old Latin filios, from Proto-Italic feiljos, from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁ylios, from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁(y)- — to suckle, nurse.
Ancestry of “filial”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | filialis | Filial; of or pertaining to a son or daughter |
| 2 | Latin | filia | daughter; any female offspring |
| 3 | Latin | filius | a son; any male descendant; children |
| 4 | Old Latin | filios | son; accusative plural of fīlius |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | feiljos | son |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁ylios | sucker |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰeh₁(y)- | to suckle, nurse |