English
specify
Specify comes from Medieval Latin specificus ‘specific’, from Latin speciēs ‘kind’, 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-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to observe, watch, look at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciēs‘kind’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500specificus‘specific’
- Medieval Latin, derivedc. 600–1500specificō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400specifier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500specifien
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1300specify
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-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*spekjō‘to observe, see’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciō‘to observe, watch, look at’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEspeciēs‘kind’
- Medieval Latinc. 600–1500specificus‘specific’
- Medieval Latin, derivedc. 600–1500specificō
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400specifier
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500specifien
- Englishearliest quotation c. 1300specify
Earliest quotation: c. 1300, Richard Morris, Cursor Mundi [Runner of the World]: “Forthermar o þis lecheri / Agh i þe noght…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, microscope, espionage, skeptic, kaleidoscope, gyroscope, espy, 118 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
scope, skeptical, endoscopic, macroscopic, spectroscopic, 116 more
through Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
speculation, speculative, speculate, inconspicuous, specular, 28 more
through Latin speciō ‘to observe, watch, look at’
despite, respect, perspective, spite, aspect, inspector, spectrum, expectation, inspection, spectacular, conspicuous, spectacle, retrospective, inspect, spectator, retrospect, expectant, specter, speculator, circumspect, 30 more
through Latin speciēs ‘kind’
Today it means
verb To state explicitly, or in detail, or as a condition.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / specify