English
pragmatist
Pragmatist comes from Ancient Greek πρᾶγμα ‘thing’, from πρᾱ́σσω ‘I do, practice’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘to go over, cross’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-‘to go over, cross’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pr̥h₂-k-yé-tireconstructed*k-enlargement of *per-
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπρᾱ́σσω‘I do, practice’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπρᾶγμαprâgma‘thing’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007pragmatist
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*per-‘to go over, cross’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pr̥h₂-k-yé-tireconstructed*k-enlargement of *per-
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπρᾱ́σσω‘I do, practice’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπρᾶγμαprâgma‘thing’
- Englishearliest quotation 2007pragmatist
Earliest quotation: 2007, John Lachs, Robert Talisse: “[S]ome pragmatists (such as William James) took a more…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘to go over, cross’
before, first, support, far, per, report, further, price, press, fear, opportunity, private, pre, port, prior, prime, practice, afford, primary, ford, appreciate, pregnant, prize, forth, precious, par, privilege, practical, ferry, parade, fare, interpretation, porch, pardon, praise, pirate, prix, primitive, peril, interpreter, 155 more
through Proto-Indo-European *pr̥h₂-k-yé-ti
through Ancient Greek πρᾱ́σσω ‘I do, practice’
Today it means
noun One who acts in a practical or straightforward manner; one who is pragmatic; one who values practicality or pragmatism.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *per- / pragmatist