English
ambivalent
Ambivalent comes from German Ambivalenz ‘ambivalence’, from Latin valeō ‘be strong’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleō‘be strong’
- Germanc. 1650–presentAmbivalenz‘ambivalence’
- Englishearliest quotation 1961ambivalent
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleō‘be strong’
- Germanc. 1650–presentAmbivalenz‘ambivalence’
- Englishearliest quotation 1961ambivalent
Earliest quotation: 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs: “In modern burlesque [...] sexual and erotic stimuli are…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-
wild, wool, velvet, validation, wield, fluff, flannel, validate, cuckold, valiant, velour, lanolin, woll, valorous, 36 more
through Proto-Italic *walēō ‘to be strong’
value, invalid, validity, valence, convalescent, convalescence, 13 more
through Latin valeō ‘be strong’
valid, equivalent, valuation, avail, vale, vail, valour, 18 more
Today it means
adj Simultaneously experiencing or expressing opposing or contradictory feelings, beliefs, motivations, or meanings.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / ambivalent