English
semblance
Semblance comes from Anglo-Norman semblaunce, from Late Latin similāre ‘a fax machine’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘together, one’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘together, one’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-h₂-lo-reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*semalis‘similiar’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsimilis‘like’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsimulō‘to act or behave as if’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEsimilāre‘a fax machine’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400semblaunce
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘outward appearance, form’
- Englishearliest quotation 1569semblance
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-‘together, one’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*sem-h₂-lo-reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*semalis‘similiar’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsimilis‘like’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsimulō‘to act or behave as if’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEsimilāre‘a fax machine’
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400semblaunce
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form‘outward appearance, form’
- Englishearliest quotation 1569semblance
Earliest quotation: 1569, Richard Grafton, Edwarde the Fift: “And of truth the Protectour [later Richard III of…”
Equivalent to semble + -ance
Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘together, one’
…
Latin similis ‘similar’
Late Latin similāre ‘a fax machine’
Old French sembler ‘to resemble’
Middle English semblen
English semble
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *sem- ‘together, one’
some, same, single, simple, simply, soft, seem, sam, sincerely, singular, similarity, simultaneous, anomaly, resemble, sincerity, assimilate, homeopathic, anomalous, homology, hyphen, synapse, insincere, homolog, synchronise, sempre, 46 more
through Latin similis ‘like’
similar, simile, simulacrum, 20 more
through Latin simulō ‘to act or behave as if’
Today it means
noun The outward appearance or form of a person or thing.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *sem- / semblance