English
venereal
Venereal comes from Latin venereus, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- ‘to love’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wenh₁-‘to love’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvenereus
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500venereal
- Englishearliest quotation 1597same form
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*wenh₁-‘to love’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvenereus
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500venereal
- Englishearliest quotation 1597same form
Earliest quotation: 1597, Don Richardo de Medico Campo pseudonym; , The Trimming of Thomas Nashe Gentleman: “[...] I like not his countenance; I am afraid…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- ‘to love’
win, won, wish, wonder, wont, wen, venom, wynn, wean, winsome, ween, 20 more
Today it means
adj Of or relating to the genitals or sexual intercourse.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *wenh₁- / venereal