suggest
/səˈdʒɛst/
verb
Origin
Latin
suggestus — brought up, carried under
Overview
Meaning Now
- To put forward for consideration; to propose an idea, plan, or course of action.
- To call to mind or evoke an idea or feeling indirectly; to imply.
- To indicate or show evidence of something.
Literal older meaning
to bring up from below (sub- + gerere)
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
suggesten
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The verb entered English in the 16th century. Early usage often carried a sense of underhanded prompting or inducing someone to perform an act, often evil, reflecting the Latin 'suggerere' sense of slipping something to someone stealthily.
Evolution
- Latin
suggerere
“to provide, put under, suggest”
From sub- (up from below) + gerere (to carry/bear).
- Middle French
suggérer
“to prompt, to suggest”
- Early Modern English
suggest
“to hint, to prompt, to suggest”
Originally implied prompting or inciting, sometimes with a negative connotation.
Connections
Word parts
sub-
prefix
up from under
gest
root
to carry or bear
Related across languages
French
suggérer
to suggest
Italian
suggerire
to suggest
Related words
Explore next
Related to suggest
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.