English
alibi
Alibi comes from Latin alibī ‘elsewhere, at another place’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalius‘other, another’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalibī‘elsewhere, at another place’
- Englishearliest quotation 1954alibi
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalius‘other, another’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalibī‘elsewhere, at another place’
- Englishearliest quotation 1954alibi
Earliest quotation: 1954, Ian Fleming, Death of a Pelican: “Bond laughed. 'What an organization!' he said. 'I'm sure…”
The story
Probably after French alibi, which has this use since the late 14th century.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
as, all, old, adult, el, ultimate, element, ultra, elder, ellen, outrage, ou, alter, altitude, alumni, adolescent, qualification, altar, alt, alpine, abolish, alto, proletariat, auld, alum, ulterior, alias, retaliate, alp, alimony, coalesce, aad, eld, foetal, exalt, althea, altimeter, withal, 58 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
through Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’
alternate, adultery, altercation, alienation, altruism, alienate, alternation, inalienable, 18 more
through Latin alius ‘other, another’
Today it means
noun The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a crime proves or attempts to prove being in another place when the alleged act was committed.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / alibi