English
coincidence
Coincidence comes from Middle French coincidence, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂d-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱh₂d-root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600coincidence
- Englishearliest quotation 1978same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ḱh₂d-root as named · steps between not traced
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600coincidence
- Englishearliest quotation 1978same form
Earliest quotation: 1978, 1976, Leszek Kołakowski: “This is a matter of coincidence rather than historical…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂d-
chance, occasion, casual, incident, cascade, decadent, cadaver, cadence, 5 more
Today it means
noun The property of being coincident, occurring at the same time or place.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂d- / coincidence