English
Prius
Prius comes from Latin prius, from prior ‘prior, previous’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *préy ‘before’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*préy‘before’reconstructed
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCE*pri‘before’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*priōs‘former’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprior‘prior, previous’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpriusneuter of prior
- Englishearliest quotation 2006Prius
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*préy‘before’reconstructed
- Old Latinc. 700–75 BCE*pri‘before’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*priōs‘former’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprior‘prior, previous’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEpriusneuter of prior
- Englishearliest quotation 2006Prius
Earliest quotation: 2006, Sarah Lassez with Gian Sardar, And She’s Down for the Count!: “Also, whereas in L.A. you could step out your…”
The story
According to Toyota, the name can be interpreted as a reference to there never being a mass-produced hybrid car prior to it.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *préy ‘before’
primary, prime, primitive, primal, primus, 3 more
through Proto-Italic *priōs ‘former’
through Latin prior ‘prior, previous’
Today it means
noun —
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *préy / Prius