English
irregible
Irregible comes from Latin irregibilis ‘ungovernable’, from regibilis ‘governable”, “tractable’, 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 straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule or govern’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEregibilis‘governable”, “tractable’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEirregibilis‘ungovernable’
- Englishearliest quotation 1979irregible
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 straighten’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*regōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEregō‘to rule or govern’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEregibilis‘governable”, “tractable’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEirregibilis‘ungovernable’
- Englishearliest quotation 1979irregible
Earliest quotation: 1979, Indonesian Journal of Demography, XI-XV: “According to Lipscombe in 1927, many Javanese travelled to…”
Formed from ir- ‘un-’ + regible ‘governable”, “tractable’
Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti ‘to straighten’
Proto-Italic *regō
Latin regō ‘to rule or govern’
Latin regibilis ‘that may be ruled, governable, tractable,…’
English regible
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, real, rich, royal, regular, correct, rank, roy, radar, arrangement, rack, rogue, arrange, rex, raj, interrogation, rake, dresser, rector, rani, regal, regency, undress, rajah, dressage, rhesus, eldritch, riel, rectilinear, derailleur, retch, interregnum, dirigible, 72 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃réǵeti ‘to straighten’
through Proto-Italic *regō
regional, resource, ruler, directory, regiment, regimen, erectile, erectus, erector, 34 more
through Latin regō ‘to rule or govern’
source, director, address, rule, direction, dress, direct, region, realm, regime, regulate, resurrection, erect, regent, rectify, insurrection, rectum, droit, rectification, régime, dirge, irregularity, recto, rectitude, rectus, derecho, incorrigible, regula, regio, corregidor, 46 more
Today it means
adj Not regible; ungovernable, unmanageable, intractable.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / irregible