English
outrage
Outrage comes from Old French outrage, from Vulgar Latin *ultrāticum ‘passing beyond’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘to grow, nourish’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘to grow, nourish’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ol-reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEūls‘beyond’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEultrā‘beyond’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*ultrāticum‘passing beyond’reconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400outrage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500outrage
- Englishearliest quotation 1648outrage
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘to grow, nourish’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂ol-reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEūls‘beyond’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEultrā‘beyond’
- Vulgar Latinc. 100–700 CE*ultrāticum‘passing beyond’reconstructed
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400outrage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500outrage
- Englishearliest quotation 1648outrage
Earliest quotation: 1648, Journals of the House of Lords, Die Jovis: “The Lords acknowledge the great and happy Providence of…”
The story
Later reanalysed as out- + rage, whence the contemporary pronunciation, though neither of these are etymologically related.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘to grow, nourish’
as, all, old, else, adult, el, ultimate, element, alien, alternate, elder, alter, ellen, altitude, alumni, qualification, alt, altar, alpine, adolescent, abolish, alto, alias, ou, alum, alibi, retaliate, alimony, alp, proletariat, auld, ulterior, altruism, parallax, coalesce, exalt, foetal, althea, altimeter, aad, 66 more
through Latin ultrā ‘beyond’
Today it means
noun An excessively violent or vicious attack; an atrocity.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / outrage