English
documentary
Documentary comes from Latin documentum ‘instruction’, from Proto-Italic *dokeō ‘to cause to perceive’, 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*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘to teach or instruct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocumentum‘instruction’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdocument
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentdocumentaire
- Englishearliest quotation 1982documentary
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*deḱ-‘to take’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*doḱ-éye-tireconstructedcausative of *deḱ-
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*dokejōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*dokeō‘to cause to perceive’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEdoceō‘to teach or instruct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdocumentum‘instruction’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentdocument
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentdocumentaire
- Englishearliest quotation 1982documentary
Earliest quotation: 1982, Martin Krieger, Stark/Erotic: “Just as there is a tradition of history painting,…”
Formed from document + -ary
Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
…
Proto-Italic *dokeō ‘to cause to perceive’
Latin doceō ‘teach’
Latin documentum ‘lesson’
Middle French document
English document
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- ‘to take’
tail, decent, dignity, decoration, decor, disdain, paradox, dogma, indignation, fonda, dainty, indignant, décor, deign, digne, dignitary, 54 more
through Latin doceō ‘to teach or instruct’
doctor, doctrine, dodo, doctrinal, docile, docent, 16 more
through Latin documentum ‘instruction’
Today it means
adj Of, related to, or based on documents.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- / documentary