English
linear
Linear comes from Latin līneāris ‘line-’, from līneus ‘flaxen’, and ultimately from Proto-Italic *līnom.
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*līnom1reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīnum2‘flax’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīneus2‘flaxen’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīnea3‘line’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīneāris3‘line-’
- Englishearliest quotation 2004linear3
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
- 1 Wiktionary, Latin linum, which cites Pokorny
- 2 Wiktionary, Latin linea
- 3 Wiktionary, English linear
- Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 2004, Wolfgang Hoeg, Thomas Lauterbach: “Linear radio relates to our well-known tune-in radio, where…”.
Earlier history uncertain. See Wiktionary.
Lineage
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*līnomWiktionary, Latin linum, which cites Pokornyreconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīnumWiktionary, Latin linea‘flax’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīneusWiktionary, Latin linea‘flaxen’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīneaWiktionary, English linear‘line’
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElīneārisWiktionary, English linear‘line-’
- Englishearliest quotation 2004linearWiktionary, English linear. Earliest quotation in Wiktionary’s entry: 2004, Wolfgang Hoeg, Thomas Lauterbach: “Linear radio relates to our well-known tune-in radio, where…”
Formed from line + -ar
Proto-Germanic *līną ‘flax’
Proto-Germanic *līnǭ ‘line’
Proto-West Germanic *līnā ‘line’
Old English līne ‘line’
Middle English line ‘rope’
English line
Linked words
through Latin līnum ‘flax’
through Latin līneus ‘flaxen’
through Latin līnea ‘line’
Today it means
adj Having the form of a line; straight or roughly straight; following a direct course.
Sources
Sources: Wiktionary, “linear”; the older steps come from the Wiktionary entries for Latin linum, Latin linea. By Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org (dump of Oct 3 2026); text adapted and restructured. Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word. License.
Etymograph / Proto-Italic *līnom / linear