Etymology
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supplement (n.)

late 14c., from Latin supplementum "that which fills up, that with which anything is made full or whole, something added to supply a deficiency," from supplere "to fill up" (see supply (v.)).

supplement (v.)

1829, from supplement (n.). Compare Spanish suplementar. Related: Supplemented; supplementing.

Entries linking to supplement

supply (v.)

late 14c., "to help, support, maintain," also "fill up, make up for," from Old French soupplier "fill up, make full" (Modern French suppléer) and directly from Latin supplere "fill up, make full, complete," from assimilated form of sub "up from below" (see sub-) + plere "to fill" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill"). The meaning "furnish, provide" first recorded 1520s. Related: Supplied; supplying.

supplemental (adj.)

c. 1600, from supplement (n.) + -al (1). Related: Supplementally. Generally "added to supply what is wanted," whereas supplementary historically tends toward "added as something secondary or supernumerary."

supplementary (adj.)

1660s, "added as something extra," from supplement (n.) + -ary. Suppletory in the same sense is from 1620s.

updated on December 30, 2013

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Dictionary entries near supplement

supine

supper

suppertime

supplant

supple

supplement

supplemental

supplementary

suppliant

supplicant

supplicate

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