Etymograph

English

affluence

Affluence comes from Latin affluēns ‘flowing, running or floating to, towards or in’, and goes back to fluō ‘flow’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfluō‘flow’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffluō‘flow to, towards or in’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffluēns‘flowing, running or floating to, towards or in’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffluentia
  5. Old Frenchc. 842–1400affluence
  6. Englishtodaysame form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfluō‘flow’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffluō‘flow to, towards or in’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffluēns‘flowing, running or floating to, towards or in’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaffluentia
  5. Old Frenchc. 842–1400affluence
  6. Englishtodaysame form

The story

Only relation to antonym indigence is common Latinate suffix; affluence only acquired sense of wealth in 16th century English and French, while indigentia meant “poverty” or “lack” in Latin.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *bʰluH-yé-ti

fluidity, confluent, 24 more

through Latin fluō ‘flow’

influence, fluid, influx, flux, fluent, fluctuate, fluctuation, flume, fluorine, confluence, fluency, fluvial, fluorite, fluor, 26 more

Today it means

noun An abundant flow or supply.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Latin fluō / affluence

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