Etymology of the English word cancer
the English word
cancerderived from the Latin word
cancer (crab; Cancer; the_South; lattice, grid; barrier)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kar-derived from the Latin word
literallyderived from the Latin word
adiutor (assistant, deputy; accomplice)
derived from the Late Latin word
adiuvare (help, aid, abet)
using the Latin prefix
ad- (to, in addition)
derived from the Latin word
ad (to; near; to; to; to; near)
derived from the Latin word
iuvare (help, assist, aid; it pleases, delights; it is enjoyable)
derived from the Greek word
ouresis, οὔρησις
derived from the Greek word
oureo, οὐρέω
Date
The earliest known usage of cancer in English dates from the 14th century.
Derivations in English
canker,
anticancerCognates
Dutch
kanker, English
canister, French
cancer, German
Kanister, Italian
canchero, Spanish
cancer, Swedish
kanisterUsage
Word found in Old English, Modern English
