English
reclaim
Reclaim comes from Anglo-Norman reclamer, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- ‘to call out to’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kelh₁-‘to call out to’root as named · steps between not traced
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400reclamer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reclaymen
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588reclaim
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kelh₁-‘to call out to’root as named · steps between not traced
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400reclamer
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500reclaymen
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1587–1588reclaim
Earliest quotation: c. 1587–1588, Christopher Marlowe, Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […]: “His Highneſſe pleaſure is that he ſhould liue, And…”
The story
Equivalent to re- + claim.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- ‘to call out to’
low, hell, clear, classic, calendar, haul, clarity, reconciliation, clarification, declare, proclamation, reconcile, claire, classify, squeal, exclamation, clarinet, proclaim, clarion, acclaim, claimant, irreconcilable, clamour, clamor, claret, conciliar, exclaim, ecclesiastic, clas, ecclesial, 33 more
Today it means
verb To return land to a suitable condition for use.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kelh₁- / reclaim