Preëmpt: A Word's Etymology is More Than Meets the Eye
The English language is full of words that can mislead us in regards to their origins at first glance. "Preëmpt" (or its more common forms "preempt" or "pre-empt") is a prime example. With its ending resembling the root of "empty," one might assume a connection to the concept of being devoid of something. However, the etymology of preëmpt reveals a far more intriguing story.
The Unexpected Formation of Preëmpt
Unlike most words built with prefixes like "pre-" (meaning "before"), preëmpt doesn't directly descend from the noun "empt." Instead, it's a back-formation. This means the verb preëmpt was actually created from the existing noun "preemption," which has been in use since the 16th Century. Preemption refers to the act of claiming something before someone else can.[1]
Tracing the Roots Back to Latin
So, from where does preemption come? Its origins lie in the Latin verb "preemere." This verb literally translates as "to take beforehand," perfectly aligning with the meaning of preëmpt. The word preemere itself is a combination of two Latin components: "prae-" (meaning "before") and a form of "emere" (meaning "to take").[2]
A False Cognate: Empty vs. Emere
While emere might seem suspiciously similar to the English word "empty," they aren't directly related. Emere likely has roots in the Indo-European language family, predating written records. The English word "empty" comes from a separate branch of this family, giving it a distinct etymology.[3]
Empty: A Different Etymological Branch
While preëmpt leads us down a fascinating path through Latin verbs, the story of empty takes us in a completely different direction. Unlike the back-formation of preëmpt, the word empty has a more straightforward etymology rooted in the history of the English language itself.
Old English Roots
The word empty finds its origins in Old English, which was spoken in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Old English word for empty was "ǣmettig," which can be further traced back to the adjective "ǣmetta" meaning "leisure" or "unoccupied."[4]
The Mystery of the Root
The exact origin of ǣmetta is a bit more obscure. Linguists believe it might be related to the Old English verb "mōtan," meaning "to have to" or "must." However, the precise connection remains unclear.
A Separate Etymological Journey
The key takeaway is that empty has a distinct etymology from preëmpt. While they share a similar sounding elements, their historical origins lie in different branches of the language tree. Empty sprouted from Old English, whereas preëmpt traces back to Latin verbs.
