Etymology of the English word insect
the English word
insectderived from the Latin word
insectumderived from the Latin word
insecare (cut, incise; make incision in; tell; tell of; relate)
using the Latin prefix
in- (suffix for no)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*ne (not)
derived from the Latin word
secare (to cut; cut, sever; decide)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*sek-Date
The earliest known usage of insect in English dates from the 17th century.
Derivations in English
insectile,
insecticide,
insectifuge,
insectologyCognates
Dutch
insekt, French
insecte, German
Insekt, Norwegian
insekt, Swedish
insektUsage
Word found in Modern English
