Etymology of the English word laxative
the English word
laxativederived from the Old French word
laxatifderived from the Latin word
laxativusderived from the Latin word
laxatus (wide, large in extent, spacious)
derived from the Latin word
laxare (loosen, slaken, relax)
derived from the Latin word
laxus (unstrung; relaxed, at ease; wide, spacious, ample)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*sleg-derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*slēg-using the Latin suffix
-atusDate
The earliest known usage of laxative in English dates from the 14th century.
Usage
Word found in Modern English
