entry
erect
/ɪˈrɛkt/upright, or to raise into an upright position
From Latin ē- (out) + Latin regō (to direct).
from Latin ērectus (“upright”), past participle of ērigō (“raise, set up”)
from Middle English erect, a borrowing
Word Ancestry
from Latin ērectus (“upright”), past participle of ērigō (“raise, set up”)
from Middle English erect, a borrowing
Picture a Roman builder setting a column upright: the verb ērigō combined ē-, “out,” with regō, “guide” or “keep straight.” Its past participle, ērectus, could mean not just upright but also elevated, alert, resolute—and even aroused. The straight-line idea in regō has a surprising family resemblance to words such as direct, correct, and regulate: all carry the sense of setting something on a proper course. English borrowed erect through Middle English, with the adjective recorded in the late 14th century; the verb erecten followed from the adjective. So when something stands erect, it is quite literally been “set straight” and raised up.
The Story
Picture a Roman builder setting a column upright: the verb ērigō combined ē-, “out,” with regō, “guide” or “keep straight.” Its past participle, ērectus, could mean not just upright but also elevated, alert, resolute—and even aroused. The straight-line idea in regō has a surprising family resemblance to words such as direct, correct, and regulate: all carry the sense of setting something on a proper course. English borrowed erect through Middle English, with the adjective recorded in the late 14th century; the verb erecten followed from the adjective. So when something stands erect, it is quite literally been “set straight” and raised up.
Modern Usage
Having a penis that is firm and raised during sexual arousal.
Kin & Kindred
From 'ē-'·out; upward or outward in this formation
From 'regō'·to direct, keep straight, or guide
Derived Terms
English words from this root
Sources
Urban Dictionary
Wiktionary