English
convalescent
Convalescent comes from French convalescent, from Latin convalēscō ‘to become strong or well’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleō‘to be strong’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEvalēscō‘to become strong’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEconvalēscōas convalēscere, present participle‘to become strong or well’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEconvalēscēn(t-)s
- Frenchc. 1600–presentconvalescent
- Englishearliest quotation 1842same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleō‘to be strong’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEvalēscō‘to become strong’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEconvalēscōas convalēscere, present participle‘to become strong or well’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEconvalēscēn(t-)s
- Frenchc. 1600–presentconvalescent
- Englishearliest quotation 1842same form
Earliest quotation: 1842, anonymous collaborator of Letitia Elizab, Keeping up Appearances. […]: “So soon as Lady Anne was pronounced convalescent by…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-
wild, wool, velvet, validation, wield, fluff, flannel, validate, valiant, cuckold, velour, lanolin, woll, valorous, 36 more
through Proto-Italic *walēō ‘to be strong’
value, validity, invalid, ambivalent, ambivalence, valence, 13 more
through Latin valeō ‘to be strong’
valid, equivalent, avail, valuation, vale, vail, valour, 18 more
Today it means
adj recovering one's health and strength after a period of illness; on the mend.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / convalescent