English
existentialist
Existentialist comes from French existentiel ‘existential’, from Latin sistō ‘to cause to stand’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stísteh₂ti‘to be standing up, to be getting up’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sistō‘to stand’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsistō‘to cause to stand’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsistō‘to be, exist’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsistēns‘being, existing’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsistentiaas existentia‘existence’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEexsistentiālis‘existential’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentexistentiel‘existential’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentexistentialiste
- Englishtodayexistentialist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stísteh₂ti‘to be standing up, to be getting up’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sistō‘to stand’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsistō‘to cause to stand’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsistō‘to be, exist’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsistēns‘being, existing’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEexsistentiaas existentia‘existence’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEexsistentiālis‘existential’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentexistentiel‘existential’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentexistentialiste
- Englishtodayexistentialist
Formed from existential + -ist
Late Latin existentiālis ‘coming into or relating to existence’
English existential
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’
state, post, stay, rest, stand, distance, stadium, instance, stood, stable, constitution, contest, substance, establish, instant, stability, destination, stem, destiny, testimony, distant, stud, prostitution, stationary, stool, stamina, prostitute, substitution, stale, attest, extant, stow, steadfast, stead, distal, astute, oust, metastatic, destitute, stasis, 141 more
through Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti ‘to be standing up, to be getting up’
system, consistent, static, histone, stater, 33 more
through Latin sistō ‘to cause to stand’
assistance, assistant, assist, resist, insist, consist, persistent, persist, armistice, solstice, desist, subsistence, 6 more
Today it means
noun A person who adheres to the philosophy of existentialism.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- / existentialist