Where does “balance” come from?
balance (Middle French) comes from Old French balance, from Late Latin bilancia, from Latin bilanx, from Latin bi-, from Ancient Greek κύκλος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos, from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- — to turn.
balance (Middle French): scales
Ancestry of “balance”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old French | balance | — |
| 2 | Late Latin | bilancia | — |
| 3 | Latin | bilanx | having two scales; a balance with two scalepans |
| 4 | Latin | bi- | having two parts; occurring twice |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | κύκλος | circle, ring; Any circular object, such as a... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷékʷlos | wheel; circle |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷel- | to turn |
Words derived from “balance”