English
modernize
Modernize comes from French moderniser ‘to modernize’, from Late Latin modernus ‘recent, actual’, 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, mode, manner, way’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodo‘just now’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmodernus‘recent, actual’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentmoderne‘modern’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentmoderniser‘to modernize’
- Englishtodaymodernize
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, mode, manner, way’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodo‘just now’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEmodernus‘recent, actual’
- Frenchc. 1600–presentmoderne‘modern’
- French, derivedc. 1600–presentmoderniser‘to modernize’
- Englishtodaymodernize
Formed from modern + -ize
Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’
…
Latin modus ‘measure’
Latin modo ‘just now’
Late Latin modernus
Middle French moderne ‘modern’
English modern
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’
must, medical, medicine, medication, meditation, med, remedy, medicinal, modest, blackmail, medic, meditate, molding, moderator, modulate, mote, mete, commode, moulder, 26 more
through Proto-Italic *modos
through Latin modus ‘measure, mode, manner, way’
model, mud, mood, commodity, mold, module, modification, mould, modulation, modal, modus, modulus, modicum, modifiable, modulo, 19 more
Today it means
verb To make (something old or outdated) up to date, or modern in style or function by adding or changing equipment, designs, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *med- / modernize