Cognate

Cognate

In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus (blood relative). Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are not considered cognates.

For example, the English words shirt and skirt are doublets; the former derives from the Old English sċyrte, while the latter is loaned from Old Norse skyrta, both of which derive from the Proto-Germanic *skurtjōn-. Additional cognates of the same word in other Germanic languages include the German Schürze and Dutch schort (apron).

Read more about Cognate:  Characteristics of Cognate Words, Cognates Across Languages, Cognates Within The Same Language, False Cognates

Famous quotes containing the word cognate:

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    Richard Wilbur (b. 1921)