English
demonstrative
Demonstrative comes from Latin dēmōnstrō ‘to show, demonstrate’, from mōnstrum ‘a divine omen indicating misfortune, an evil…’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *men- ‘to think, mind’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*men-‘to think, mind’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*monéyeti‘to cause to think, make think’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*man-eje-reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*moneō‘to remind, warn’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*monestromreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstrum‘a divine omen indicating misfortune, an evil omen, portent’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstrō‘to show’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēmōnstrō‘to show, demonstrate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēmōnstrātīvus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600démonstratif
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500demonstratif
- Englishearliest quotation 1783demonstrative
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*men-‘to think, mind’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*monéyeti‘to cause to think, make think’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*man-eje-reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*moneō‘to remind, warn’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*monestromreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstrum‘a divine omen indicating misfortune, an evil omen, portent’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmōnstrō‘to show’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēmōnstrō‘to show, demonstrate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēmōnstrātīvus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600démonstratif
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500demonstratif
- Englishearliest quotation 1783demonstrative
Earliest quotation: 1783, Hugh Blair: “demonstrative eloquence”.
Formed from demonstrate + -ive
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *men- ‘to think, mind’
music, mind, money, amount, comment, mental, museum, remain, mouth, mountain, permanent, auto, mention, min, mount, mentor, mint, maya, monetary, imminent, monk, muse, menace, ming, prominence, mas, mandarin, amnesty, mania, mosaic, eminent, monte, dementia, amnesia, manic, monastery, mantra, remnant, mont, eminence, 116 more
through Proto-Indo-European *monéyeti ‘to cause to think, make think’
through Proto-Italic *man-eje-
through Proto-Italic *moneō ‘to remind, warn’
monitor, monument, minter, admonition, admonish, 15 more
through Latin mōnstrum ‘a divine omen indicating misfortune, an evil…’
monster, monstrous, monstrosity, 8 more
through Latin mōnstrō ‘to show’
Today it means
adj That serves to demonstrate, show or prove.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *men- / demonstrative