English
equivalent
Equivalent comes from Latin aequivalēns, the participle of aequivaleō ‘to have equal power’, from aequus ‘equal’ + valeō ‘to be strong’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleō‘to have strength’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaequivaleō‘to be equivalent’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaequivalēns‘equivalent’
- Englishearliest quotation 1692–1717equivalent
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂welh₁-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yetireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*walēō‘to be strong’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvaleō‘to have strength’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaequivaleō‘to be equivalent’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEaequivalēns‘equivalent’
- Englishearliest quotation 1692–1717equivalent
Earliest quotation: 1692–1717, Robert South, Twelve Sermons Preached upon Several Occasions: “For now to serve and to minister, servile and…”
The story
Mostly displaced native Middle English efenmete (See evenmete).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁-
wild, wool, velvet, validation, wield, fluff, flannel, validate, cuckold, valiant, velour, lanolin, woll, valorous, 35 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂wl̥h₁éh₁yeti
through Proto-Italic *walēō ‘to be strong’
value, invalid, validity, valence, ambivalent, convalescent, convalescence, 13 more
through Latin valeō ‘to have strength, influence, power’
Today it means
adj Similar or identical in value, meaning or effect; virtually equal.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂welh₁- / equivalent