English
pristine
Pristine comes from Middle French pristin ‘former’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch, extend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pernext step skipped: Latin unattested
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīstinus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600pristin‘former’
- Englishearliest quotation 1749pristine
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*ten-‘to stretch, extend’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*pernext step skipped: Latin unattested
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprīstinus
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600pristin‘former’
- Englishearliest quotation 1749pristine
Earliest quotation: 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones: “Thus fable reports that the fair Grimalkin, whom Venus,…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *ten- ‘to stretch, extend’
content, continue, entertainment, maintenance, tight, contain, ton, tone, obtain, tennis, tender, tune, retain, continuous, detention, tenant, retention, sustain, continent, tenor, tonic, tendon, rein, tenacity, continuum, tenacious, detain, countenance, pertinent, tetanus, sustenance, tenet, abstain, pertain, tenement, tantra, abstinence, incontinence, tenable, retinue, 72 more
Another origin of pristine
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEπρῐ́ωas πρίζω‘to saw’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEπρίστιςprístis‘saw, sawfish’
- Englishtodaypristine
Today it means
adj Unspoiled; still with its original purity; uncorrupted or unsullied.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *ten- / pristine