Online Etymology Dictionary

compote (n.): 1690s, from French compote "stewed fruit," from Old French composte (13c.) "mixture, compost," from Vulgar Latin *composita, fem. of compositus (see composite). Etymologically the same word as compost (n.).
compound (v.): "to put together," late 14c., compounen "to mix, combine," from Old French compondre, componre "arrange, direct," from Latin componere "to put together" (see composite). The -d appeared 1500s in English on model of expound, etc. Related: Compounded; compounding.
compound (n.2): "a compound thing," mid-15c., from compound (adj.).
compound (n.1): 1670s, via Dutch (kampoeng) or Portuguese, from Malay kampong "village, group of buildings." Spelling influenced by compound (v.). Originally, "the enclosure for a factory or settlement of Europeans in the East," later used of South African diamond miners' camps (1893), then of large fenced-in spaces generally (1946).
compound (adj.): late 14c., originally compouned, past participle of compounen (see compound (v.)). Compound eye is attested from 1836; compound sentence is from 1772.
comprehend (v.): mid-14c., "to understand," from Latin comprehendere "to take together, to unite; include; seize" (of catching fire or the arrest of criminals); also "to comprehend, perceive" (to seize or take in the mind), from com- "completely" (see com-) + prehendere "to catch hold of, seize" (see prehensile). Related: Comprehended; comprehending.
comprehendible (adj.): 1814 (rare), from comprehend + -ible; a native formation alongside comprehensible.
comprehensible (adj.): 1520s, "able to be contained," from Latin comprehensibilis, from comprehensus, past participle of comphrehendere (see comprehend). Meaning "able to be understood" is from c.1600. Related: Comprehensibly; comprehensibility.
comprehension (n.): mid-15c., from Middle French comprehénsion (15c.), from Latin comprehensionem (nominative comprehensio) "a seizing, laying hold of, arrest," figuratively "perception, comprehension," noun of action from past participle stem of comprehendere (see comprehend). In reading education, from 1921.
comprehensive (adj.): "containing much," 1610s, from French comprehénsif, from Late Latin comprehensivus, from comprehens-, past participle stem of Latin comprehendere (see comprehend). Related: Comprehensively (mid-15c.); comprehensiveness.
compress (v.): late 14c., "to press (something) together," from Old French compresser "compress, put under pressure," from Latin compressare "to press together," frequentative of comprimere "to squeeze," from com- "together" (see com-) + premere "to press" (see press (v.1)). Related: Compressed; compressing.
compress (n.): 1590s in the surgical sense, from compress (v.).
compression (n.): c.1400, from Middle French compression (14c.), from Latin compressionem (nominative compressio) "a pressing together," noun of action from past participle stem of comprimere (see compress (v.)). Related: Compressional. Compressional wave is attested from 1887.
compressor (n.): 1839, from Latin compressor, agent noun from comprimere (see compress (v.)). As a type of surgical instrument, from 1870. As short for air compressor, from 1874.
comprise (v.): early 15c., "to include," from Old French compris, past participle of comprendre "to contain, comprise" (12c.), from Latin comprehendere (see comprehend). Related: Comprised; comprising.
compromise (n.): early 15c., "a joint promise to abide by an arbiter's decision," from Middle French compromis (13c.), from Latin compromissus, past participle of compromittere "to make a mutual promise" (to abide by the arbiter's decision), from com- "together" (see com-) + promittere (see promise). The main modern sense of "a coming to terms" is from extension to the settlement itself (late 15c.).
compromise (v.): mid-15c., from compromise (n.). Related: Compromised; compromising.
Compsognathus (n.): genus of small dinosaurs, Modern Latin, from Greek kompsos "refined, elegant" + gnathos "jaw" (see gnathic).
comptroller (n.): c.1500, variant of controller, with bad spelling due to influence of unrelated French compte "an account," from Latin computare.
compulsion (n.): early 15c., from Middle French compulsion, from Latin compulsionem (nominative compulsio) "a driving, urging," noun of action from past participle stem of compellere "compel" (see compel). Psychological sense is from 1909 in A.A. Brill's translation of Freud's "Selected Papers on Hysteria," where German Zwangsneurose is rendered as compulsion neurosis.
compulsive (adj.): c.1600, from French compulsif, from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (see compel). Psychological sense is from 1902. As a noun, attested from 1630s; psychological sense from 1957. Related: Compulsively; compulsiveness.
compulsory (adj.): 1580s, from Medieval Latin compulsorius, from Latin compulsus, past participle of compellere (see compel).
compunction (n.): mid-14c., from Old French compunction (12c., Modern French componction), from Late Latin compunctionem (nominative compunctio) "remorse; a pricking" (of conscience), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin compungere "to severely prick, sting," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + pungere "to prick" (see pungent). Used in figurative sense by early Church writers. Originally a much more intense feeling, similar to "remorse," or "contrition."
compunctious (adj.): c.1600, from stem of compunction + -ous. Related: Compunctiously; compunctiousness.
computation (n.): early 15c., from Middle French computation, from Latin computationem (nominative computatio), noun of action from past participle stem of computare "to sum up, reckon, compute" (see compute).
computational (adj.): 1857, from computation + -al (1). Related: Computationally.
compute (v.): 1630s, from French computer, from Latin computare "to count, sum up, reckon together," from com- "with" (see com-) + putare "to reckon," originally "to prune" (see pave). Related: Computed; computing.
computer (n.): 1640s, "one who calculates," agent noun from compute (v.). Meaning "calculating machine" (of any type) is from 1897; in modern use, "programmable digital electronic computer" (1945 under this name; theoretical from 1937, as Turing machine). ENIAC (1946) usually is considered the first. Computer literacy is recorded from 1970; an attempt to establish computerate (adjective, on model of literate) in this sense in the early 1980s didn't catch on. Computerese "the jargon of programmers" is from 1960, as are computerize and computerization.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A New York Congressman says the use of computers to record personal data on individuals, such as their credit background, "is just frightening to me." [news article, March 17, 1968]
comrade (n.): 1590s, "one who shares the same room," from Middle French camarade (16c.), from Spanish camarada "chamber mate," originally "chamberful," from Latin camera (see camera). In Spanish, a collective noun referring to one's company. In 17c., sometimes jocularly misspelled comrogue. Related: Comradely; comradeship.
comradery (n.): 1879, an attempt to nativize camaraderie.
Comstockery (n.): 1905, from Anthony Comstock (1844-1915), founder of New York Society for the Suppression of Vice (1873) and self-appointed crusader against immorality, + -ery. Coined by George Bernard Shaw after Comstock objected to "Mrs. Warren's Profession." "Comstockery is the world's standing joke at the expense of the United States" [Shaw, "New York Times," Sept. 26, 1905]. The Comstock lode, silver vein in Nevada, was discovered 1859 and first worked by U.S. prospector H.T.P. Comstock (1820-1870).
Comus (n.): Greek god of joy and revelry, from Latin, from Greek komos "revel, merrymaking" (see comedy).
con (n.1): "negation" (mainly in pro and con), 1570s, short for Latin contra "against" (see contra).
con (n.2): "study," early 15c., from Old English cunnan "to know, know how" (see can (v.1)).
con (adj.): "swindling," 1889, American English, from confidence man (1849), from the many scams in which the victim is induced to hand over money as a token of confidence. Confidence with a sense of "assurance based on insufficient grounds" dates from 1590s.
con (n.3): a slang or colloquial shortening of various nouns beginning in con-, e.g., from the 19th century, confidant, conundrum, conformist, convict, contract, and from the 20th century, conductor, conservative.
con (v.1): "to guide ships," 1620s, from French conduire "to conduct, lead, guide" (10c.), from Latin conducere (see conduce). Related: Conned; conning.
con (v.2): "to swindle," 1896, from con (adj.). Related: Conned; conning.
con-: word-forming element meaning "together, with," sometimes merely intensive; the form of com- used in Latin before consonants except -b-, -p-, -l-, -m-, or -r-. In native English formations, co- tends to be used where Latin would use con- (e.g. costar).
conation (n.): in philosophical use from 1836, from Latin conationem (nominative conatio) "an endeavoring, effort," noun of action from past participle stem of conari "to endeavor, to try," from PIE *kona-, from root *ken- "to set oneself in motion."
conative (adj.): 1836, from Latin conat-, past participle stem of conari "to endeavor, to try" (see conation) + -ive.
concatenate (v.): c.1600, from Late Latin concatenatus, past participle of concatenare "to link together" (see concatenation). Related: Concatenated; concatenating.
concatenation (n.): c.1600, from Late Latin concatenationem (nominative concatenatio) "a linking together," noun of action from past participle stem of concatenare "to link together," from com- "together" (see com-) + catenare, from catena "a chain" (see chain (n.)).
concave (adj.): early 15c., from Old French concave (14c.) or directly from Latin concavus "hollow, arched, vaulted, curved," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + cavus "hollow" (see cave (n.)).
concavity (n.): c.1400, from Old French concavité "hollow, concavity" (14c.) or directly from Latin concavitatem (nominative concavitas), from Latin concavus "hollow" (see concave).
conceal (v.): early 14c., concelen, from Old French conceler "to hide, conceal, dissimulate," from Latin concelare "to hide," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + celare "to hide," from PIE root *kel- "to hide" (see cell). Replaced Old English deagan. Related: Concealed; concealing.
concealment (n.): early 14c. (late 13c. in Anglo-French), from Old French concelement "concealment, secrecy," from conceler "to hide" (see conceal). Originally a term in law; general sense is from c.1600.
concede (v.): 1630s, from Middle French concéder or directly from Latin concedere "give way, yield, go away, depart, retire," figuratively "agree, consent, give precedence," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + cedere "to go, grant, give way" (see cede). Related: Conceded; conceding.
conceit (n.): late 14c., "something formed in the mind, thought, notion," from conceiven (see conceive) based on analogy of deceit and receipt. Sense evolved from "something formed in the mind," to "fanciful or witty notion" (1510s), to "vanity" (c.1600) through shortening of self-conceit (1580s).
conceited (adj.): c.1600, "having an overweening opinion of oneself" (short for self-conceited, 1590s); earlier "having intelligence" (1540s); past participle adjective from conceit (q.v.).