English
épicier
Épicier comes from French épicier ‘grocer’, from épice ‘spice’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to see’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciēs‘seeing, view, look’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espice‘spice’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentépice‘spice’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentépicier‘grocer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1844same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to see’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciēs‘seeing, view, look’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espice‘spice’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentépice‘spice’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentépicier‘grocer’
- Englishearliest quotation 1844same form
Earliest quotation: 1844, The Monthly Review: “A Parisian épicier may be always known by his…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, microscope, espionage, kaleidoscope, skeptic, gyroscope, espy, 112 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
scope, skeptical, spectroscopic, macroscopic, endoscopic, 110 more
through Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
speculation, speculative, speculate, inconspicuous, specular, 22 more
through Latin speciō ‘to see’
respect, despite, aspect, perspective, spectrum, inspector, inspection, spectacular, expectation, spite, inspect, spectacle, specimen, spectator, retrospective, retrospect, conspicuous, expectant, specter, especial, speculator, circumspect, 24 more
through Latin speciēs ‘seeing, view, look’
special, specific, species, specify, specious, 4 more
through Old French espice ‘spice’
Today it means
noun A French grocer.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / épicier