Where does “root” come from?

root (Portuguese) comes from English root, from Middle English rote, from Old French rote, from Latin rupta, from Latin ruptus, from Latin rumpō, from Proto-Indo-European Hrunépti, from Proto-Indo-European Hrewp- — to tear out, dig out, open, acquire.

root (Portuguese): root user with complete access to the operating system

Definitions

  1. root user with complete access to the operating system

Ancestry of “root”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrootThe part of a plant, generally underground, that...
2Middle EnglishroteThe root; The foundation or base of a...
3Old Frenchroteroute, path
4Latinruptanominative feminine singular of ruptus;...
5Latinruptusbroken; ruptured, burst
6Latinrumpōto break, burst, tear, rend, rupture; break asunder, force open
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrunéptito be breaking
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire
Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrew-Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrewp-Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrunépti
root — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer