English
contradict
Contradict comes from Latin contrādictus ‘contradicted’, from contrādīcō ‘speak against’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- ‘to show’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deyḱ-‘to show’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déyḱeti‘to show, point out’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*deikō‘to show, indicate’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīcō‘to say, speak’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontrādīcō‘speak against’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontrādictus‘contradicted’past participle of contrādīcō
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1591–1595contradict
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deyḱ-‘to show’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déyḱeti‘to show, point out’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*deikō‘to show, indicate’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdīcō‘to say, speak’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontrādīcō‘speak against’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcontrādictus‘contradicted’past participle of contrādīcō
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1591–1595contradict
Earliest quotation: c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet: “A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted…”
The story
Derived from Latin contrādictus (‘contradicted’), the past participle of contrādīcō (‘speak against’) (originally two words).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- ‘to show’
teach, toe, token, digit, indicative, syndicate, paradigm, tache, syndicalism, 44 more
through Proto-Italic *deikō ‘to show, indicate’
indexation, interdiction, 18 more
through Latin dīcō ‘to say, speak’
index, indicate, preach, indication, indicator, predict, dedication, dictionary, dedicate, dictator, ditto, dictate, addict, predicament, predicate, ditty, diction, dictum, interdict, indicia, 25 more
Today it means
verb To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- / contradict