English
cement
Cement comes from Latin caementum ‘quarry stone’, from caedō ‘to cut, hew’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂eyd-‘to cut, hew’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂éydetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaidō‘to cut, hew, fell’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaedō‘to cut, hew’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaementum‘quarry stone’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400ciment
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500syment
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1606–1607cement
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂eyd-‘to cut, hew’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*kh₂éydetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kaidō‘to cut, hew, fell’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaedō‘to cut, hew’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcaementum‘quarry stone’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400ciment
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500syment
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1606–1607cement
Earliest quotation: c. 1606–1607, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra: “For they have entertained cause enough To draw their…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd- ‘to cut, hew’
through Proto-Italic *kaidō ‘to cut, hew, fell’
through Latin caedō ‘to cut, hew’
decision, precise, concise, circumcision, incision, chisel, scissor, incisive, excision, incisor, caesium, 27 more
Today it means
noun A powdered substance produced by firing (calcining) calcium carbonate (limestone) and clay that develops strong cohesive properties when mixed with water. The main ingredient of concrete.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd- / cement