English
deferential
Deferential comes from Latin; the Latin form is not named.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEform not named
- Englishearliest quotation 2009deferential
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEform not named
- Englishearliest quotation 2009deferential
Earliest quotation: 2009, Mark Elliott, War on Terror: “In A v. UK, the Grand Chamber of the…”
Formed from -al
The story
Coined by Scottish novelist, poet and playwright Walter Scott.
Another origin of deferential
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰer-‘to bear, carry’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰéreti‘to be carrying’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*ferō‘to carry, bear’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEferō‘bear, carry’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēferō‘carry, remove’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēferēnsas dēferentem‘carrying, bearing away’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdéférent
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentdéférentiel
- Englishtodaydeferential
Today it means
adj Respectful and considerate; showing deference.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / deferential