Distribute
/dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/noun
To divide and give out among several people or places.
Did you know?Distribute comes from Latin distribuere, built from dis- (“apart”) + tribuere (“to assign, allot”), the same ancient root behind tribute and contribute — language literally encoded the logic of power and payment.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*trebʰ-
“to settle, dwell; later extended into the idea of assigning or allotting”
Latin
Latin
tribuere
“to assign, allot, grant, pay”
Late Latin
Latin
distribuere
“to divide up, apportion”
Old French
Old French
distribuer
“to divide, apportion”
Middle English
English
distribuen
“to divide among several; dispense”
Modern English
English
distribute
“to divide and give out among several recipients”
Explore more surprising origins