English
spice
Spice comes from Old French espice, from Late Latin speciēs ‘spice, good, ware’, 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 see’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEspeciēs‘spice, good, ware’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espice
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400spece
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500spice‘Spices as used as scents or to enhance the smell of something’
- Englishearliest quotation 1934spice
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 see’
- Late Latinc. 200–600 CEspeciēs‘spice, good, ware’
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400espice
- Anglo-Normanc. 1066–1400spece
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500spice‘Spices as used as scents or to enhance the smell of something’
- Englishearliest quotation 1934spice
Earliest quotation: 1934, Ernest Bramah: “I'm not going to promise anything after the perfectly…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- ‘to see, to look, to observe’
spy, suspicion, microscope, espionage, kaleidoscope, skeptic, gyroscope, espy, 113 more
through Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti ‘to be looking at, to keep looking at’
scope, skeptical, macroscopic, spectroscopic, endoscopic, 111 more
through Proto-Italic *spekjō ‘to observe, see’
speculation, speculative, speculate, inconspicuous, specular, 23 more
through Latin speciō ‘to see’
respect, despite, perspective, aspect, inspector, spectrum, expectation, inspection, spectacular, specimen, spite, spectacle, inspect, retrospective, spectator, retrospect, expectant, specter, conspicuous, especial, circumspect, speculator, 25 more
through Late Latin speciēs ‘spice, good, ware’
Today it means
noun Aromatic or pungent plant matter (usually dried) used to season or flavor food.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- / spice