English
constitute
Constitute comes from Latin cōnstituō ‘to put in place’, from status ‘position’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tus ~ *sth₂téws ‘to stand (up)’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*stéh₂tus ~ *sth₂téws‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*status‘position, place’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatus‘position’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatuō‘to put up’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstituō‘to put in place’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstitūtumpast participle of cōnstituō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constituten
- Englishearliest quotation 1569constitute
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*stéh₂tus ~ *sth₂téws‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*status‘position, place’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatus‘position’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatuō‘to put up’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstituō‘to put in place’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcōnstitūtumpast participle of cōnstituō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500constituten
- Englishearliest quotation 1569constitute
Earliest quotation: 1569, Thomas Preston: “A naughty man that will not obey the kings…”
Linked words
through Latin status ‘position’
state, status, stade, estado, statuette, 6 more
through Latin statuō ‘to put up’
institute, statue, institution, substitute, statute, prostitution, prostitute, substitution, restitution, destitute, destitution, 7 more
Today it means
verb To set up; to establish; to enact.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂tus ~ *sth₂téws / constitute