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Origin and history of truncate

truncate(v.)

"reduce in size or quantity by cutting," late 15c., from Latin truncatus "cut off," past participle of truncare "to maim, mutilate, cut off," from truncus "maimed, mutilated," also "trunk of a tree, trunk of the body," a word of uncertain origin, probably originally "mutilated, maimed, deprived of branches or head." Related: Truncated; truncating.

also from late 15c.

Entries linking to truncate

truncated(adj.)

"cut squarely off or straight across, appearing as if cut short at the top," late 15c., past-participle adjective from truncate (v.). Originally in heraldry; modern scientific and technical senses are post-1700.

truncation(n.)

early 15c., truncacioun, "the cutting of a blood vessel" (Chauliac), from Late Latin truncationem (nominative truncatio) "a maiming or mutilating," noun of action from past-participle stem of truncare "maim, mutilate, shorten by cutting" (see truncate). In general use, "act of cutting short, state of being cut off."

*tere-(2)

*terə- Proto-Indo-European root meaning "cross over, pass through, overcome."

It might form all or part of: avatar; caravanserai; nectar; nectarine; nostril; seraglio; thrill; thorough; through; tranche; trans-; transient; transom; trench; truculent; truncate; trunk.

It might also be the source of: Sanskrit tirah, Avestan taro "through, beyond;" Latin trans "beyond;" Old Irish tre, Welsh tra "through;" Old English þurh "through."

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