English
function
Function comes from Middle French function, from Latin fūnctiō ‘performance’, from fungor ‘to perform’, ultimately from PIE *bʰewg-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰewg-‘to enjoy’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*fungōrreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfungor‘to perform’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfūnctiō‘performance’perfect participle of fungor
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fonction
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600function
- Englishearliest quotation 1991function
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*bʰewg-‘to enjoy’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*fungōrreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEfungor‘to perform’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEfūnctiō‘performance’perfect participle of fungor
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400fonction
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600function
- Englishearliest quotation 1991function
Earliest quotation: 1991, Kenneth G Ross, Robert W Matthews: “Although the laying workers functioned in a queenlike manner,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- ‘to enjoy’
refugee, refuge, fugue, perfunctory, 15 more
through Proto-Italic *fungōr
through Latin fungor ‘to perform, execute, discharge’
Today it means
noun What something does or is used for.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- / function