Where does “federal” come from?

federal (Portuguese) comes from Latin foedus, from Proto-Italic foiðos, from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- — to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut.

federal (Portuguese): federal, federative of or relating to a federation, a form of government that divides a sovereign state into smaller, local, autonomous unities such as states/provinces and municipalities/counties that are subject to a higher nationwide sphere, the federal sphere

Definitions

  1. federal, federative of or relating to a federation, a form of government that divides a sovereign state into smaller, local, autonomous unities such as states/provinces and municipalities/counties that are subject to a higher nationwide sphere, the federal sphere

Ancestry of “federal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinfoedustreaty, agreement, contract; league; pact,...
2Proto-Italicfoiðos—
3Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeyh₂-to fear, be afraid; to strike, hit; to hew, cut

Words derived from “federal”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeyh₂- →Every word from Proto-Italic foiðos →Every word from Latin foedus →