Etymology Explorer › Middle French

Where does “meilleur” come from?

meilleur (Middle French) comes from Old French meillor, from Latin melĭor, from Proto-Italic meljōs, from Proto-Indo-European mélyōs, from Proto-Indo-European mel-, from Proto-Indo-European mey- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.

meilleur (Middle French): comparative degree of bon; superlative degree of...

Definitions

  1. comparative degree of bon; superlative degree of...

Ancestry of “meilleur”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchmeillorbetter; comparative degree of bon; best;...
2Latinmelĭor—
3Proto-Italicmeljōs—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanmélyōs—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanmel-soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub
6Proto-Indo-Europeanmey-to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange

Words derived from “meilleur”

  • meilleur
Every word from Proto-Indo-European mey- →