English
volution
Volution comes from Latin volvō ‘to turn’, and goes back to Proto-Indo-European *welH-.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*welH-‘to turn, wind, round’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*wolwōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvolvōas volvere‘to turn’
- Englishearliest quotation 1843volution
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*welH-‘to turn, wind, round’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*wolwōreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEvolvōas volvere‘to turn’
- Englishearliest quotation 1843volution
Earliest quotation: 1843, Edgar Allan Poe: “On the left wrist were two circular excoriations, apparently…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *welH- ‘to turn, wind, round’
well, walk, wall, valve, vulgar, waltz, helix, divulge, vagrant, wale, gauche, vulgate, iliac, ilium, valvular, valise, 76 more
through Proto-Italic *wolwō
through Latin volvō ‘to turn’
volume, involve, vault, evolve, revolt, vulva, voluminous, convoluted, voluble, convolutional, 46 more
Today it means
noun A turning (rolling or revolving) motion.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *welH- / volution