English
respect
Respect comes from Latin respectus ‘a looking at, regard, respect’, from speciō ‘to see’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to see’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErespiciō‘look at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErespectus‘a looking at’perfect passive participle of respiciō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400respect
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500respect
- Englishearliest quotation 1595respect
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to see’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErespiciō‘look at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CErespectus‘a looking at’perfect passive participle of respiciō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400respect
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500respect
- Englishearliest quotation 1595respect
Earliest quotation: 1595, The Tragedie of King Richard the Second. […] (First Quarto): “[T]hou reſpecteſt not ſpilling Edwards bloud: [...]”
Formed from re + spect
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, microscope, espionage, skeptic, kaleidoscope, gyroscope, espy, 113 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
scope, skeptical, endoscopic, macroscopic, spectroscopic, 111 more
through Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
speculation, speculative, speculate, inconspicuous, especial, specular, 23 more
through Latin speciō ‘to see’
special, despite, specific, species, perspective, spite, spice, inspector, expectation, aspect, spectrum, inspection, spectacular, conspicuous, specify, specimen, spectacle, inspect, spectator, retrospective, retrospect, expectant, specter, speculator, specious, circumspect, 26 more
through Latin respectus ‘a looking at, regard, respect’
Today it means
noun An attitude of consideration or high regard; a feeling of admiration or esteem.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / respect