Etymology of the English word contain
the English word
containderived from the Old French word
contenirderived from the Latin word
continere (hinder, contain, shut in; keep, hold, hang together; secure, maintain, sustain)
using the Latin prefix
con- (together)
derived from the Latin prefix
com-derived from the Latin word
cum (with)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*kom (near, with, together)
derived from the Medieval Latin word
tenere (hold, keep; comprehend; represent; support)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ten-Date
The earliest known usage of contain in English dates from the 13th century.
Derivations in English
containment,
contained,
containingUsage
Word found in Modern English
