Etymology Explorer › Spanish

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

  1. balance; balance; weighing up

Ancestry of “balance”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchbalancépast participle of balancer
2Middle Frenchbalancescales
3Old Frenchbalance—
4Late Latinbilancia—
5Latinbilanxhaving two scales; a balance with two scalepans
6Latinbi-having two parts; occurring twice
7Ancient Greekκύκλοςcircle, ring; Any circular object, such as a...
8Proto-Indo-Europeankʷékʷloswheel; circle
9Proto-Indo-Europeankʷel-to turn

Words derived from “balance”

  • balancín
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷel- →