Etymograph

English

solstice

Solstice comes from Latin sōlstitium ‘summer solstice’, from sistō ‘to cause to stand’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stísteh₂ti‘to be standing up, to be getting up’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sistō‘to stand’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsistō‘to cause to stand’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsōlstitium‘summer solstice’
  6. Old Frenchc. 842–1400solstice
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  8. Englishearliest quotation 2010same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*steh₂-‘to stand (up)’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*stísteh₂ti‘to be standing up, to be getting up’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*sistō‘to stand’reconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsistō‘to cause to stand’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEsōlstitium‘summer solstice’
  6. Old Frenchc. 842–1400solstice
  7. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  8. Englishearliest quotation 2010same form

Earliest quotation: 2010, Capt Sp Meek: “The point at which the sun is nearest to…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- ‘to stand (up)’

state, post, stay, rest, stand, distance, stadium, stood, contest, establish, stable, constitution, instance, instant, stability, stem, distant, destination, substance, testimony, destiny, stud, prostitution, stationary, prostitute, extant, stale, stamina, substitution, stool, distal, attest, stead, astute, stow, stasis, testimonial, destitute, stalwart, oust, 141 more

through Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti ‘to be standing up, to be getting up’

system, consistent, static, histone, stater, 33 more

through Latin sistō ‘to cause to stand’

assistant, assistance, assist, resist, insist, consist, persistent, persist, desist, subsistence, armistice, existentialist, 6 more

Today it means

noun One of the two points in the ecliptic at which the sun is furthest from the celestial equator. This corresponds to one of two days in the year when the day is either longest or shortest.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- / solstice

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