English
feat
Feat comes from Anglo-Norman fet ‘action, deed’, from Latin faciō ‘to do, to make’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciōas facere‘to do, to make’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfactum
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fait
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400fet‘action, deed’
- Englishearliest quotation 1590feat
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰeh₁k-reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*dʰh₁kyétireconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*θakjōreconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*fakjō‘to make’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfaciōas facere‘to do, to make’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfactum
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fait
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400fet‘action, deed’
- Englishearliest quotation 1590feat
Earliest quotation: 1590, Robert Greene, The Shepheards Tale: “[…] she set downe her period on the face…”
Linked words
through Proto-Italic *θakjō
effectively, effectiveness, ineffective, affectionate, imperfection, 63 more
through Proto-Italic *fakjō ‘to make’
effective, difficulty, interface, perfection, affection, imperfect, facet, affective, defection, defector, effector, deface, putrefaction, confectionary, affectation, 68 more
through Latin faciō ‘to do, to make’
face, difficult, perfect, effect, profit, factor, facility, efficient, faculty, affair, affect, sacrifice, infection, facial, deficit, manufacture, faction, facilitate, efficacy, superficial, facade, defect, deficient, fetish, counterfeit, infect, facsimile, façade, hacienda, maleficent, aficionado, efficacious, parfait, facies, difficile, confit, beautify, confection, beneficent, refectory, 84 more
through Latin factum
Today it means
noun A relatively rare or difficult accomplishment.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- / feat