English
mode
Mode comes from Old French mode, from Latin modus ‘measure, manner’, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*med-‘to measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*mod-ós‘measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*modosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodus‘measure’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400mode
- Englishearliest quotation 1855same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*med-‘to measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*mod-ós‘measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*modosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodus‘measure’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400mode
- Englishearliest quotation 1855same form
Earliest quotation: 1855, Journal of the Royal Horticultural Socie: “An effectual and inexpensive mode of Protecting Wall-Trees from…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’
must, medical, medicine, medication, meditation, med, remedy, medicinal, blackmail, medic, meditate, molding, mete, modulate, mote, moulder, 30 more
through Proto-Italic *modos
through Latin modus ‘measure, due measure, rhythm, melody’
mud, mood, modification, commodity, mold, module, mould, modulation, modal, modus, modulus, modicum, modifiable, modulo, 20 more
Another origin of mode
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*med-‘to measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*mod-ós‘measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*modosreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodus‘measure’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400mode
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600same form
- Frenchc. 1600–presentsame form‘fashion, trend’
- Englishtodaysame form
Today it means
noun A particular means of accomplishing something.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *med- / mode