English
importance
Importance comes from Middle French importance, from Medieval Latin importantia, from importō ‘to bring in’, from portō ‘to carry’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEportō‘carry’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimporto‘to bring’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500importantiapresent active infinitive of importo
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600importance
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500importaunce
- Englishearliest quotation 1895importance
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEportō‘carry’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEimporto‘to bring’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500importantiapresent active infinitive of importo
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600importance
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500importaunce
- Englishearliest quotation 1895importance
Earliest quotation: 1895, Kenneth Graham, The Golden Age: “It was incessant matter for amazement how these Olympians…”
Equivalent to import ‘to be important’ + -ance
Latin portō ‘to carry, bear’
Latin importō ‘bring in from abroad, import’
Old French emporter
Middle English importen
English import
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per-
first, before, far, per, private, press, further, price, fear, pre, practice, appreciate, primary, prior, prime, prize, opportunity, practical, pregnant, afford, precious, praise, ford, privilege, parade, par, interpretation, forth, ferry, pirate, fare, pardon, prix, primitive, interpreter, pragmatic, privy, prism, proton, peril, 143 more
through Proto-Italic *portā ‘gate’
transport, porch, portal, rapporteur, portico, porta, 21 more
through Proto-Italic *portāō ‘to carry’
sport, export, porter, rapport, deport, comport, 16 more
through Latin portō ‘carry, bear’
Today it means
noun The quality or condition of being important or worthy of note.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin portō / importance