Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Latin haereō Latin adhaereō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus Medieval Latin adhaesivusbor. French adhésifder. English adhesive From French adhésif, from Medieval Latin adhaesivus, from adhaereō (supine adhaesum); see adhere.