English
suburb
Suburb comes from Old French suburbe.
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400suburbe
- Englishearliest quotation 1611suburb
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Old Frenchc. 842–1400suburbe
- Englishearliest quotation 1611suburb
Earliest quotation: 1611, The Holy Bible, London: […] Robert Barker: “And the Lord spake vnto Moses in the plaines…”
A compound of suburbium ‘under-’ + urbs ‘city’
Proto-Indo-European *werbʰ- ‘to enclose’
Proto-Italic *worβis ‘city’
Latin urbs ‘a city, walled town’
Latin suburbium ‘under-’
Proto-Indo-European *werbʰ- ‘to enclose’
Proto-Italic *worβis ‘city’
Latin urbs ‘city’
Every English word from Old French suburbe
Today it means
noun A residential area located on the outskirts of a city or large town that usually includes businesses that cater to its residents; such as schools, grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, convenience stores, etc.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Old French suburbe / suburb