English
pro
Pro (advantage) comes from late Middle English pro, from Latin prō ‘on behalf of’, from Proto-Italic *prō.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pró‘toward’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*próh₁reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*prōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprō‘on behalf of’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pro‘advantage’
- Englishtodaypro
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*pró‘toward’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*próh₁reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*prōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEprō‘on behalf of’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500pro‘advantage’
- Englishtodaypro
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *pró ‘toward’
prior, proton, prolactin, 10 more
through Latin prō ‘on behalf of’
Today it means
noun An advantage of something, especially when contrasted with its disadvantages (cons).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *pró / pro