myEtymology.com: English etymology of decay

Etymology of the English word decay

the English word decay

derived from the French word decair

derived from the Latin word decidere (detach, cut off, out; fall, drop, hang; make explicit; put an end to, bring to conclusion)

derived from the Latin word cadere (to fall; fall, sink, drop)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kad- (to fall)

derived from the Late Latin word caedere (chop, hew, cut out)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kaə-id-

using the Late Latin prefix de-

derived from the Latin word de (away; down)

derived from the Latin word cidere

The earliest known usage of decay in English dates from the 15th century.

Word found in Modern English