myEtymology.com: English etymology of enormous

Etymology of the English word enormous

the English word enormous

using the English suffix -ous

derived from the Latin suffix -osus

derived from the Latin word enormis (irregular; ill-fitting, shapeless)

using the Late Latin prefix e-

derived from the Latin word norma (rule, square used by carpenters, hence standard viewpoint; rule; carpenter's square; standard, pattern)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gno-

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *gnō-

using the Latin prefix ex-

derived from the Late Latin word ex (out)

derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *eghs

derived from the English word enorm

The earliest known usage of enormous in English dates from the 16th century.

Dutch enorm, French énorme, German enorm, Italian enorme, Norwegian enorm, Spanish enorme, Swedish enorm

Word found in Modern English