English
erect
Erect comes from Latin ērectus ‘upright’, from ērigō ‘raise, set up’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃réǵeti‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to direct, keep straight, guide’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEērigō‘raise, set up’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEērectus‘upright’past participle of ērigō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500erect
- Englishearliest quotation 1715same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃réǵeti‘to straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to direct, keep straight, guide’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEērigō‘raise, set up’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEērectus‘upright’past participle of ērigō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500erect
- Englishearliest quotation 1715same form
Earliest quotation: 1715, Alexander Pope, The Temple of Fame: A Vision: “His piercing Eyes, erect, appear to vievv / Superior…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, real, rich, royal, regular, rank, arrangement, roy, radar, correct, arrange, rack, rogue, raj, rex, interrogation, rake, regal, regency, rani, dresser, rajah, undress, dressage, rhesus, rector, eldritch, riel, dirigible, derailleur, interregnum, retch, rectilinear, 76 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti ‘to straighten’
through Proto-Italic *regō
regional, resource, regiment, ruler, directory, regimen, 38 more
through Latin regō ‘to direct, keep straight, guide’
source, rule, region, address, director, dress, direction, direct, regime, realm, regulate, resurrection, regent, insurrection, incorrigible, droit, régime, rectify, irregularity, dirge, rectum, rectification, regula, corregidor, regio, rectitude, derecho, rectus, recto, 47 more
Another origin of erect
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500erecten
- Englishtodayerect
Today it means
adj Upright; vertical or reaching broadly upwards.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / erect