Etymograph

English

torpor

Torpor comes from Latin torpor ‘numbness’, from torpeō ‘to be numb’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *terp- ‘to satisfy’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*terp-‘to satisfy’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tr̥péh₁yetireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*torpēōreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtorpeō‘to be numb’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtorpor‘numbness’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1826same form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*terp-‘to satisfy’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*tr̥péh₁yetireconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*torpēōreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEtorpeō‘to be numb’
  5. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEtorpor‘numbness’
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1826same form

Earliest quotation: 1826, Mary Shelley, London: Henry Colburn: “She knew that she was the cause of her…”

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *terp- ‘to satisfy’

thrift, 6 more

through Latin torpeō ‘to be numb’

torpedo, 4 more

Today it means

noun A state of being inactive or stuporous.

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

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *terp- / torpor

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