Where does “balance” come from?
balance (Spanish) comes from French balancé, from Middle French balance, from Old French balance, from Late Latin bilancia, from Latin bilanx, from Latin bi-, from Ancient Greek κύκλος, from Proto-Indo-European kʷékʷlos — to turn.
balance (Spanish): balance; balance; weighing up
Definitions
- balance; balance; weighing up
Ancestry of “balance”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French | balancé | past participle of balancer |
| 2 | Middle French | balance | scales |
| 3 | Old French | balance | scales (weighing scales) |
| 4 | Late Latin | bilancia | — |
| 5 | Latin | bilanx | having two scales; a balance with two scalepans |
| 6 | Latin | bi- | having two parts; occurring twice |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | κύκλος | circle, ring; Any circular object, such as a... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷékʷlos | wheel; circle |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷel- | to turn |