Advertisement

Origin and history of proposal

proposal(n.)

"a plan or scheme offered for acceptance," 1650s, from propose + -al (2); specific sense of "offer of marriage" is by 1749.

also from 1650s

Entries linking to proposal

propose(v.)

mid-14c., proposen, "form a design or intention;" late 14c., "put forward or offer for consideration;" from Old French proposer "propose, advance, suggest" (12c.), from pro "forth" (see pro-) + poser "put, place" (see pose (v.1)). The notion is "place before as something to be done." The French word took the place of Latin proponare (for this substitution, see pose (v.1)). The meaning "make an offer of marriage" is attested by 1764. Related: Proposed; proposing. See also propone, which coexisted with this word for a time.

-al(2)

suffix forming nouns of action from verbs, mostly from Latin and French, meaning "act of ______ing" (such as survival, referral), Middle English -aille, from French feminine singular -aille, from Latin -alia, neuter plural of adjective suffix -alis, also used in English as a noun suffix. Nativized in English and used with Germanic verbs (as in bestowal, betrothal).

    Advertisement

    More to explore

    proposition
    mid-14c., proposicioun, "a riddle" (a sense now obsolete); late 14c., in rhetoric, "a setting forth as a topic for discussion or discourse," from Old French proposicion "proposal, submission, (philosophical) proposition" (12c.), from Latin propositionem (nominative propositio) "a
    overture
    mid-13c., "an opening, an aperture;" early 15c. as "an introductory proposal, something offered to open the way to some conclusion...," from Old French overture "opening; proposal" (Modern French ouverture), from Latin apertura "opening," from aperire "to...
    suggestion
    Meaning "proposal, statement, declaration" appeared by late 14c., but original English notion of "evil prompting" remains...
    move
    mid-15c., "a proposal" (a sense now obsolete), from move (v.). From 1650s in chess, checkers, etc....
    project
    Meaning "scheme, proposal, mental plan" is from c. 1600....
    dispatch
    One proposal is that it is Vulgar Latin *pactare "to fasten, fix" or *pactiare....
    Michigan
    situated in the heart of what is now Wisconsin; the peninsula that makes the bulk of modern Michigan under this long-forgotten proposal...
    advice
    late 13c., auys "opinion," from Old French avis "opinion, view, judgment, idea" (13c.), from phrase ço m'est à vis "it seems to me," or from Vulgar Latin *mi est visum "in my view," ultimately from Latin visum, neuter past participle of videre "to see" (from PIE root *weid- "to s
    motion
    late 14c., mocioun, "process of moving; change of place, continuous variation of position;" also "suggestion, proposal or proposition formally made," from Old French mocion "movement, motion; change, alteration" (13c., Modern French motion) and directly from Latin motionem (nomin
    substance
    c. 1300, substaunce, "divine part or essence" common to the persons of the Trinity;" mid-14c. in philosophy and theology, "that which exists by itself; essential nature; type or kind of thing; real or essential part;" from Old French sustance, substance "goods, possessions; natur

    Share proposal

    Advertisement
    Trending
    Dictionary entries near proposal
    Advertisement