Etymologically

internalis

Etymology and origin of the Latin word internalis

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
Ultimate origin
Latin internus
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin internus
Italian interno
Latin internalis
English internal

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɪn.tɛrˈnaː.lɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [in.terˈnaː.lis][1]

Forms

internālis (neuter internāle); third-declension two-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is a Medieval Latin formation,[1][2] from Latin internus (“inward, internal”) + -ālis.[1] Etymonline traces the base to Proto-Indo-European *en-ter-, a suffixed form of *en (“in”).[2]

Semantic evolution

English took it over in the early 15th century as internal, first in the sense “extending toward the interior”.[2]

Timeline

  • early 15th century – English borrows it as internal.[2]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Of the inner part of something, internal.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com

Borrowed into

Cite this entry

“Internalis.” Etymologically, 24 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/internalis. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·