English
scope
Scope comes from Italian scopo ‘purpose’, from Ancient Greek σκοπός ‘watcher, lookout’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*sképt͏̌omai‘to look at’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσκέπτομαιsképtomai‘to look at, examine’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσκοπόςskopós‘watcher, lookout’
- Late Latinmodernscopus
- Italianc. 1300–presentscopo‘purpose’
- Englishearliest quotation 2001scope
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*speḱ-‘to see, to look, to observe’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*spéḱyeti‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’reconstructed
- Proto-Hellenicc. 2200–1600 BCE*sképt͏̌omai‘to look at’reconstructed
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσκέπτομαιsképtomai‘to look at, examine’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσκοπόςskopós‘watcher, lookout’
- Late Latinmodernscopus
- Italianc. 1300–presentscopo‘purpose’
- Englishearliest quotation 2001scope
Earliest quotation: 2001, Mike Hughes, Andy Vass: “It is also true that the vast majority of…”
The story
Etymologically related to skeptic and spectrum.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, espionage, skeptic, inconspicuous, especial, espy, 116 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
special, despite, specific, respect, species, perspective, aspect, inspector, spectrum, spite, inspection, spice, spectacular, expectation, speculation, specify, specimen, spectacle, inspect, speculative, retrospective, spectator, speculate, conspicuous, retrospect, specter, expectant, circumspect, speculator, specious, specular, 113 more
through Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι ‘to look at, examine’
through Ancient Greek σκοπός ‘watcher, lookout’
episcopal, bishopric, spectroscopic, macroscopic, endoscopic, 93 more
Today it means
noun The breadth, depth or reach of a subject; the extent of applicability or relevance; a domain, purview or remit.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / scope