English
altercation
Altercation comes from Latin altercor ‘to have a discussion or difference with another’, from Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-.
- 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
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalter‘the other, another’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaltercor‘to have a discussion or difference with another’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaltercātiō
- Englishearliest quotation 1614altercation
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
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalter‘the other, another’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaltercor‘to have a discussion or difference with another’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaltercātiō
- Englishearliest quotation 1614altercation
Earliest quotation: 1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh]: “VVee ſeldome find one peece of Scripture ſo preciſely…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
as, all, old, adult, el, element, ultra, ellen, ultimate, elder, outrage, ou, alumni, adolescent, altitude, abolish, alpine, altar, alt, alias, qualification, alto, alum, auld, alp, proletariat, alimony, retaliate, coalesce, foetal, aad, eld, ulterior, exalt, althea, withal, altimeter, 59 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
else, parallax, alienate, inalienable, alienation, 30 more
through Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’
through Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’
through Latin alter ‘the other, another’
Today it means
noun An angry or heated dispute.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / altercation