difficult

The story

1. Latin · derived fromdifficultō
2. Middle French · derived fromdifficulter
3. Latin · derived fromdifficultas
4. Old French · derived fromdifficulté
5. Middle English · inherited fromdifficult
6. English todaydifficult

From Middle English difficult (ca. 1400), a back-formation from difficulte (whence modern difficulty), from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile. Replaced native Middle English earveþ (“difficult, hard”), from Old English earfoþe (“difficult, laborious, full of hardship”), cognate to German Arbeit (“work”). The verb is from the adjective, partly after Middle French difficulter and its etymon Latin difficultō. Compare difficilitate, difficultate, and Italian difficoltare.

Words from the same roots