English
correct
Correct comes from French correct, from Latin correctus, past participle of corrigō ‘to set right’ (con- + regō ‘to rule’), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule; to straighten’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrigō‘to correct, set right’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrectus‘corrected; straightened’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcorrect
- Englishearliest quotation 2013same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule; to straighten’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrigō‘to correct, set right’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrectus‘corrected; straightened’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentcorrect
- Englishearliest quotation 2013same form
Earliest quotation: 2013, Julie Vargas: “Having each day's rates of corrects and incorrects written…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, real, source, rule, rich, royal, region, regular, address, dress, rank, direction, director, direct, roy, radar, arrangement, regime, rack, ana, rogue, arrange, regulate, rex, raj, interrogation, rake, regent, resurrection, regal, regency, rani, erect, anorexia, rajah, insurrection, rectify, rhesus, droit, régime, 106 more
Another origin of correct
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrectus‘corrected’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400correcter
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500correcten
- Englishtodaycorrect
Today it means
adj Free from error; true; accurate.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / correct