English
prostitution
Prostitution comes from Latin prōstituō ‘to prostitute’, from statuō ‘to erect’, and ultimately from Proto-Italic *statuō.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*statuō‘to erect, set up’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatuō‘to erect’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprōstituō‘to prostitute’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEprostitutio
- Englishearliest quotation 1838prostitution
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*statuō‘to erect, set up’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEstatuō‘to erect’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEprōstituō‘to prostitute’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEprostitutio
- Englishearliest quotation 1838prostitution
Earliest quotation: 1838, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, London: Henry Colburn: “Sir Howard by his arts stole from them this…”
Formed from prostitute + -ion
Proto-Italic *statuō ‘to erect, set up’
Latin statuō ‘to put up (something)’
Latin prōstituō ‘to prostitute’
Latin prōstitūtus ‘prostituted’
English prostitute
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’
system, stay, post, rest, stand, distance, assistant, stadium, assistance, instance, stood, establish, stable, assist, contest, consistent, instant, stem, substance, stability, distant, resist, destiny, insist, persistent, testimony, destination, static, consist, persist, stud, stool, stale, extant, stamina, stationary, distal, attest, stead, subsistence, 152 more
through Proto-Italic *status ‘setting up’
state, statuette, estado, 6 more
through Latin statuō ‘to erect’
institute, statue, constitution, substitute, institution, statute, constitute, constituent, substitution, destitute, restitution, destitution, 6 more
Today it means
noun Engaging in sexual activity with another person for pay.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *statuō / prostitution