Etymology

multipurpose

M3U1L1T1I1P3U1R1P3O1S1E1

Today it means: Designed or intended to fit more than one type of function or application; having multiple uses. Full definition →

English purpose ← Middle English purpos ← Latin multī
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*mel-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*ml̥tós?
  3. Proto-Italic*moltos
  4. Latinmultus
  5. Latinmultī
  6. Middle Englishmulti-
  7. Englishmulti-
  8. Middle Englishpurpos
  9. Englishpurpose
  10. English todaymultipurpose

From multi- + purpose.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.