English
pre-
Pre- comes from Proto-Italic *prai- ‘pre-, before’, and goes back to *prai.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*prai‘before’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*prai-‘pre-, before’reconstructed
- Englishtodaypre-
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*prai‘before’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*prai-‘pre-, before’reconstructed
- Englishtodaypre-
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *preh₂- ‘before, in front’
for, first, premier, forbid, prairie, primer, primate, parasol, primacy, parley, portobello, 17 more
through Proto-Italic *prai ‘before’
through Proto-Italic *prai- ‘pre-, before’
prestigious, preface, prefix, preeminent, precede, prescient, impregnate, 6 more
Today it means
prefix Before; physically in front of.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *prai / pre-