English
incorrigible
Incorrigible comes from Middle French incorrigible ‘unpunished’, from Latin incorrigibilis ‘not to be corrected’, 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 be straightening, to be setting upright’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule, govern, direct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrigō‘to correct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincorrigibilis‘not to be corrected’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600incorrigible‘unpunished’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘insoluble, unmanageable’
- Englishearliest quotation 1859same 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 be straightening, to be setting upright’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule, govern, direct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcorrigō‘to correct’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEincorrigibilis‘not to be corrected’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600incorrigible‘unpunished’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘insoluble, unmanageable’
- Englishearliest quotation 1859same form
Earliest quotation: 1859, The British Journal of Psychiatry: “It may appear as an epidemic, as a hereditary…”
The story
Recorded since 1340.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, real, regular, royal, rich, rank, correct, roy, radar, arrangement, rack, rex, rogue, arrange, raj, rake, dresser, interrogation, regal, rector, regency, rani, undress, dressage, rajah, rhesus, eldritch, rectilinear, riel, retch, interregnum, derailleur, dirigible, 73 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti ‘to be straightening, to be setting upright’
through Proto-Italic *regō
regional, resource, directory, regiment, ruler, regimen, erectile, erectus, erector, 35 more
through Latin regō ‘to rule, govern, direct’
source, director, direction, address, direct, region, rule, dress, regime, realm, regulate, resurrection, erect, regent, rectify, rectum, insurrection, rectification, droit, dirge, irregularity, régime, recto, regula, rectus, rectitude, derecho, regio, corregidor, 47 more
Today it means
adj Defective and impossible to materially correct or set aright.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / incorrigible