English
modulation
Modulation comes from Middle French modulation, from Latin modulātiō ‘regular or rhythmical measure, modulation’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*med-‘to measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*medos‘measure’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodus‘measure’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodulus‘interval, measure’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodulor‘measure, beat time’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodulātiō‘regular or rhythmical measure, modulation’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600modulation
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500modulacion
- Englishearliest quotation 1531modulation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*med-‘to measure’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*medos‘measure’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodus‘measure’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodulus‘interval, measure’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodulor‘measure, beat time’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEmodulātiō‘regular or rhythmical measure, modulation’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600modulation
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500modulacion
- Englishearliest quotation 1531modulation
Earliest quotation: 1531, Thomas Elyot, Of the Firste Begynnyng of Daunsing and the Old Estimation t: “More ouer the emperours that were moſte noble⸝ delited…”
The story
Modulātus is a perfect participle of modulor (‘to beat time; to make music or sing; to measure; etc.’), from modulus (‘rhythmical measure, interval; rhythm; small interval or measure, etc.’) + -or (suffix forming certain inflections of verbs); and modulus is from modus (‘measure; method; etc.’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (‘to measure; etc.’)) + -ulus (diminutive suffix).
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *med- ‘to measure’
must, moderate, modest, meditation, blackmail, moderator, modernize, modality, mote, mete, medicate, commode, 26 more
through Proto-Italic *medos ‘measure’
medical, medicine, med, remedy, medication, medicinal, medic, meditate, 12 more
through Latin modus ‘measure’
modern, mode, mud, mood, commodity, modification, molding, modal, modicum, modus, modifiable, moulder, 19 more
through Latin modulus ‘interval, measure’
Today it means
noun Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *med- / modulation