Etymograph

English

coalition

Coalition comes from Latin coalēscō ‘to unite together’, from alēscō ‘to rear, grow, grow up’, and ultimately from ālea ‘die’.

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEālea‘die’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*aleō‘be growing up’reconstructed
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalēscō‘to rear, grow, grow up’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcoalēscō‘to unite together’
  5. Medieval Latinmoderncoalitiō
  6. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600coalition
  7. Englishearliest quotation 2013same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEālea‘die’
  2. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CE*aleō‘be growing up’reconstructed
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalēscō‘to rear, grow, grow up’
  4. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcoalēscō‘to unite together’
  5. Medieval Latinmoderncoalitiō
  6. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600coalition
  7. Englishearliest quotation 2013same form

Earliest quotation: 2013, Sarah Lyall, British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Pa: “At a time when Mr. Cameron is being squeezed…”

Linked words

through Latin alēscō ‘to rear, grow, grow up’

adolescent

through Latin coalēscō ‘to unite together’

coalesce

Today it means

noun A temporary group or union of organizations, usually formed for a particular advantage.

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

Etymograph / Latin ālea / coalition

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