Where does “multitud” come from?

multitud (Middle English) comes from Old French multitude, from Latin multitudo, from Latin multus, from Proto-Italic moltos, from Proto-Indo-European ml̥tós, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

Ancestry of “multitud”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchmultitudecrowd of people; diversity; wide range
2LatinmultitudoA great number; multitude, numerousness; A great...
3Latinmultusmuch; many
4Proto-Italicmoltosmuch, many
5Proto-Indo-Europeanml̥tóscrumbled, crumpled
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
7Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey-