English
security
Security comes from Middle English securite ‘the state of being protected’, from Latin cūra ‘care’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeys- ‘to heed’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷeys-‘to heed’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kʷoizā‘care’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcūra‘care’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsēcūrus‘safe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsēcūritās‘security’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600securité
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500securite‘the state of being protected’
- Englishearliest quotation 1595security
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*kʷeys-‘to heed’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*kʷoizā‘care’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcūra‘care’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsēcūrus‘safe’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsēcūritās‘security’
- Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600securité
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500securite‘the state of being protected’
- Englishearliest quotation 1595security
Earliest quotation: 1595, The Life and Death of King Richard the Second: “He means, my lord, that we are too remiss,…”
Formed from secure + -ity
Proto-Indo-European *kʷeys- ‘to heed’
Proto-Italic *kʷoizā ‘care’
Latin cūra ‘care’
Latin sēcūrus ‘of persons’
English secure
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *kʷeys- ‘to heed’
through Proto-Italic *kʷoizā ‘care’
procurement, manicure, procurator, 5 more
through Latin cūra ‘care’
ensure, assure, cure, proxy, insure, curator, incurable, curation, 9 more
through Latin sēcūrus ‘safe, secure’
Today it means
noun The condition of not being threatened, especially physically, psychologically, emotionally, or financially.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *kʷeys- / security