Language Of Confusion: Per, Part V

We’re back looking at the Proto Indo European per-, forward, which shows up in a lot of places.
 
First this week, prime, which showed up in the late fourteenth century from the Old French prime and classical Latin primus, first. That’s actually from the Proto Italic prismos, from the PIE preis-, before, which of course is from per-. Now that’s a very sensible etymology.
 
Then there’s premiere, which didn’t show up until 1889 in reference to the first performance of a play. It was taken directly from premier, which premiered (couldn’t resist) in the mid fifteenth century and meant first until 1711 when it was used to mean the “first minister of a state”. It’s from the French premier, first, and that’s also from primus, big surprise. Every other prime word is from primus, too, like primal, which showed up in the seventeenth century through the Medieval Latin primalis, and primary, in the fifteenth century.
 
We also have prior, which showed up in the early eighteenth century directly from the classical Latin prior, before. So. Not much change there. It’s from the Proto Indo European prai- and prei-, which of course are from pre-. Really didn’t change much. A religious prior is also related, from the Middle English priour and before that, the Medieval Latin prior, a superior officer. And that’s from the Latin prior. I do see the relationship between superior and before, though it’s weird that the noun version of the word came through English, and appeared likely before the other one.
 
Next is proud. It comes from the Old English prud, Old French prud, Late Latin prode, and classical Latin prodesse, to benefit. The pro- part is from per, while the esse part is to be, which would make this to be forward. Hm. Anyway, related to that is the word prowess, which showed up in the early thirteenth century meaning an act of bravery. It’s from the Old French proece, which happens to also be from prud. Prowess and proud are related. Who knew?
 
Sources
Online Etymology Dictionary
Google Translate
Omniglot
University of Texas at Austin Linguistic Research Center
University of Texas at San Antonio’s page on Proto Indo European language
University of Texas at Arlington
Tony Jebson’s page on the Origins of Old English
Old English-English Dictionary
Dictionary of Medieval Latin
Orbis Latinus

Language Of Confusion: Per-, Part I

This series is going to be super long, because the Proto Indo European per-, forward has spawned a LOT of words, most of which I’ve never looked at before. So it’s going to be busy, is what I’m saying.
 
First, the word that sent me down this rabbit hole: prove. It showed up in the thirteenth century from the Old French prover/pruver, from the classical Latin probare, to prove, which is from the PIE pro-bhwo, being in front, and that pro- is from -per. Proving is putting stuff in front? I guess I can see it on a figurative level. Proof is pretty close, showing up in the same century but from the Anglo French prove/preove, Old French proeve/prueve, and Late Latin proba, which is then from probare. There doesn’t seem to be a real reason for the V to F thing, other than some words (relief, belief) just do that. Fun fact, proof in use of alcohol is from 1705, because its degree of strength was tested (or proven).
 
Similarly, there’s approve, which showed up in the fourteenth century. That was aprover in Old French, and approbare in Latin, so there really hasn’t been much variation over the years. With the prefix ad- meaning to, approbare is literally to forward something, and figuratively it means to test something, which I guess would move it forward. There’s also improve, which showed up in the late fifteenth century, actually meaning to increase income, which of course leads to things improving. It’s from the Anglo French emprouwer, which is a mix of the prefix em-, which is causative here, and prou, which means… profit. And that’s not the end, either. Prou comes from the classical Latin prode, again, profit, the origin word for proud.
 
Yes, proud is related. It comes from the Old English prud/prute, also just proud. That’s from the Old French prud, from the adjective prouz (which actually means brave or valiant), which is from the Latin prode. And there’s also probe, which showed up in the early fifteenth century specifically meaning a flexible rod for exploring wounds or body cavities (ew). It was taken directly from the Medieval Latin proba, which is from probare. Because you’re testing the body. With a probe. Again, ew.
 
One more for today, profit, which was already mentioned a few times. It showed up in the mid thirteenth century from the Old French profit/profit and classical Latin profectus, growth, so yes, it does not come directly from the Latin word for profit. Profectus is from the verb proficere, to make progress, with facere meaning to do and the pro meaning forward, taken from per-.
 
Sources
Online Etymology Dictionary
Google Translate
Omniglot
Dictionary.com
University of Texas at Austin Linguistic Research Center
University of Texas at San Antonio’s page on Proto Indo European language
Tony Jebson’s page on the Origins of Old English
Old English-English Dictionary
Dictionary of Medieval Latin
Fordham University
Orbis Latinus