English
commode
Commode comes from French commode ‘convenient’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*med-‘to measure’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcommodus‘comfortable, commodious, suitable, useful, convenient, becoming’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcommode‘convenient’literally ‘convenient’
- Englishearliest quotation 1693same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*med-‘to measure’root as named
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcommodus‘comfortable, commodious, suitable, useful, convenient, becoming’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcommode‘convenient’literally ‘convenient’
- Englishearliest quotation 1693same form
Earliest quotation: 1693, Thomas d’Urfey, The Richmond Heiress: Or: “Then at the Play-Houſe ye ogle the Boxes, and…”
The story
Borrowed from French commode (literally “convenient”).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’
must, medical, medicine, modern, model, medication, mud, meditation, mood, med, remedy, moderate, medicinal, mold, modification, module, blackmail, medic, modest, meditate, mould, modulation, moderator, modal, modus, mete, modulate, mote, modulus, modicum, modifiable, modulo, 28 more
Today it means
noun A low chest of drawers on short legs.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *med- / commode