Etymograph

English

difficile

Difficile comes from Old French difficile ‘difficult’, from Latin facilis ‘easy’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘do, make’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfacilis‘easy’
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdifficilis‘difficult, hard, troublesome’
  8. Old Frenchc. 842–1400difficile‘difficult’
  9. Englishtodaysame form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
  4. Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
  5. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciō‘do, make’
  6. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfacilis‘easy’
  7. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdifficilis‘difficult, hard, troublesome’
  8. Old Frenchc. 842–1400difficile‘difficult’
  9. Englishtodaysame form

Linked words

through Proto-Italic *θakjō

effectively, effectiveness, ineffective, affectionate, imperfection, putrefaction, 65 more

through Proto-Italic *fakjō ‘to make’

effective, factor, interface, perfection, manufacture, faction, affection, imperfect, facet, defection, affective, defector, effector, deface, confectionary, affectation, 71 more

through Latin faciō ‘do, make’

face, fact, perfect, effect, feature, profit, affect, infection, affair, feat, facial, sacrifice, efficient, defect, fetish, deficit, facade, counterfeit, infect, efficacy, superficial, façade, deficient, facsimile, hacienda, confection, parfait, beautify, maleficent, refectory, facies, aficionado, confit, efficacious, beneficent, 87 more

through Latin facilis ‘easy’

faculty, facility, facilitate, facile, 3 more

Today it means

adj Hard to work with; stubborn.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- / difficile

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