English
comestible
Comestible may come from Middle French comestible.
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600comestibleuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1536same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600comestibleuncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1536same form
Earliest quotation: 1536, Thomas Elyot: “Some herbes are most comestible.”
The story
Attested as adjective in late 15th century, from Middle French, but fell from use in the 17th century, thence reintroduced from Modern French in 19th century. Corresponding terms in various Romance languages, more distant cognates include Portuguese and Spanish comida.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁ed- ‘to eat’
eating, anna, ana, fret, anodyne, esca, 19 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁édti ‘to eat’
eat, et, ent, etch, phage, 10 more
through Latin edō ‘I eat’
Today it means
adj Suitable to be eaten; edible.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle French comestible / comestible