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Origin and history of combination

combination(n.)

late 14c., combinacyoun, "act of uniting (two things) in a whole; state of being so united," from Old French combination (14c., Modern French combinaison), from Late Latin combinationem (nominative combinatio) "a joining two by two," noun of action from past participle stem of combinare "to unite, yoke together," from Latin com "with, together" (see com-) + bini "two by two," adverb from bi- "twice" (from PIE root *dwo- "two").

Sense of "a whole formed by uniting" is from 1530s; specific sense of "union or association of persons for the attainment of some common end" is from 1570s. Meaning "series of moves required to open a combination lock" is from 1880; combination lock, one requiring a certain combination of moves to open it, is from 1851. Related: Combinational.

also from late 14c.

Entries linking to combination

combo(n.)

1929, U.S. slang, originally in entertainment (jazz groups, dance teams), short for combination, which was used by 1924 in the sense "small instrumental band." Also see -o.

recombination(n.)

"an act or instance of recombining," 1791, from re- + combination, or else formed to go with recombine (v.). Specifically in reference to chromosomes by 1923.

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temperament
In old medicine, it meant a combination of qualities (hot, cold, moist, dry) that determined the nature of an organism; thus...also "a combination of the four humors (sanguine, choleric, phlegmatic, and melancholic) that made up a person's characteristic...
alliance
The general sense of "combination for a common object" is from mid-14c., as are those of "bond or treaty between rulers or...Unlike its synonyms, "rarely used of a combination for evil" [Century Dictionary]....
complexion
mid-14c., complexioun, "temperament, natural disposition of body or mind," from Old French complexion, complession "combination...of humors," hence "temperament, character, make-up," from Latin complexionem (nominative complexio) "combination" (in Late...
complementary
deficiencies," is attested by 1794, in reference to the calendar of the French Revolution; in reference to colors which in combination...
discord
Musical sense "want of harmony between two notes sounded together; a combination of notes not in harmony with one another...
coloring
Meaning "a combination of colors, hues collectively" is from 1706....
conjuncture
Meaning "combination of circumstances," especially "a critical state of affairs," is from 1610s....
consolidation
c. 1400, consolidacioun, "act of making or process of becoming solid or firm," of wounds, broken bones, etc., from Late Latin consolidationem (nominative consolidatio), noun of action from past participle stem of consolidare "to make firm, consolidate," from assimilated form of c
union
early 15c., "action of joining one thing to another," also "agreement, accord," also "state of matrimony," from Anglo-French unioun, Old French union (12c.), from Late Latin unionem (nominative unio) "oneness, unity, a uniting," also in Latin meaning "a single pearl or onion," fr
attachment
c. 1400, attachement, "arrest of a person on judicial warrant" (mid-13c. in Anglo-Latin), from Anglo-French attachement, from Old French attacher "to attach" (see attach). The word's application to property (including, later, wages) is by 1590s; the meaning "sympathy, devotion" i

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