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Etymology of the English word instinct

the English word instinct
derived from the Latin word instinctus (inspiration; instigation; roused, fired; infuriated)
derived from the Latin word instinguere
derived from the Latin word stinguere (extinguish, put out; annihilate)
derived from the Greek word stizein
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *steig-

Date

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

Derivations in English

instinctive

Cognates

Dutch instinct, English instinst, French instinct, German Instinkt, Latin instinctus, Lithuanian instinktas, Norwegian instinkt, Russian инстинкт, Swedish instinkt

Usage

Word found in Modern English



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