English
innovation
Innovation comes from Latin innovo ‘to renew, restore’, from Proto-Indo-European *néwos ‘new’, and ultimately from *nu ‘now’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nu‘now’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*néwos‘new’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*néweh₂ti‘to renew’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*nowāōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnovō‘to make new, renew, refresh’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinnovoas innovo‘to renew, restore’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEinnovatio
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400innovacion
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600innovation
- Englishearliest quotation 1814same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*nu‘now’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*néwos‘new’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*néweh₂ti‘to renew’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*nowāōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEnovō‘to make new, renew, refresh’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEinnovoas innovo‘to renew, restore’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEinnovatio
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400innovacion
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600innovation
- Englishearliest quotation 1814same form
Earliest quotation: 1814, Walter Scott, Hurst: “The others, whose time had been more actively employed,…”
Formed from innovate + -ion
Proto-Indo-European *nu ‘now’
…
Proto-Italic *nowāō
Latin novō ‘to make new, renew, refresh’
Latin innovō ‘to renew’
Latin innovātus
English innovate
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *nu ‘now’
through Proto-Indo-European *néwos ‘new’
new, newly, novel, newer, neon, nova, novice, nuevo, newness, novitiate, 14 more
through Latin novō ‘to make new, renew, refresh’
Today it means
noun The act of innovating; the introduction of something new, in customs, rites, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *nu / innovation