English
decoration
Decoration comes from Latin decorō ‘adorn, decorate’, from decus ‘pride, dignity’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déḱos‘that which is proper’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dekos‘dignity’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdecus‘pride, dignity’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdecorō‘adorn, decorate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdecoratio
- Englishearliest quotation 1918decoration
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*déḱos‘that which is proper’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dekos‘dignity’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdecus‘pride, dignity’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdecorō‘adorn, decorate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdecoratio
- Englishearliest quotation 1918decoration
Earliest quotation: 1918, William Babington Maxwell, Indianapolis: “There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of…”
Formed from decorate + -ion
Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
…
Latin decus ‘honor, distinction, glory’
Latin decorō ‘to adorn, distinguish, honor’
Latin decorātus ‘decorate, adorned, embellished, graced,…’
Middle English decorat ‘adorned’
English decorate
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
doctor, document, tail, decent, dignity, doctrine, paradox, disdain, dogma, dainty, docile, doctrinal, dodo, indignant, fonda, indignation, dox, dignitary, docent, décor, digne, deign, 55 more
Today it means
noun The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- / decoration