English
modern
Modern comes from Middle French moderne ‘modern’, from Latin modo ‘just now’, and 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’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodo‘just now’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmodernus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600moderne‘modern’
- Englishearliest quotation 1749modern
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’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodo‘just now’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmodernus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600moderne‘modern’
- Englishearliest quotation 1749modern
Earliest quotation: 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones: “The only supernatural agents which can in any manner…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’
must, medical, medicine, medication, meditation, med, remedy, medicinal, blackmail, medic, modest, meditate, molding, mete, modulate, mote, commode, moulder, 27 more
through Proto-Italic *modos
through Latin modus ‘measure’
model, mud, mood, commodity, modification, mold, module, mould, modulation, modal, modus, modulus, modicum, modifiable, modulo, 19 more
Today it means
adj Pertaining to a current or recent time and style; not ancient.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *med- / modern