pro-gay

The word 'progay' is a modern compound formed in the late 20th century within the context of social and political movements. The prefix 'pro-', derived from Latin, is used productively in English to denote advocacy or support for a cause, as seen in words like 'pro-democracy' or 'pro-choice'. The second element, 'gay', underwent a significant semantic shift in the mid-20th century from its original meaning of "joyful" to its predominant contemporary meaning referring to homosexuality. Thus, 'progay' logically constructs its meaning by combining the notion of being "in favor of" with the specific group or concept, resulting in an adjective describing supportive attitudes towards gay people and their rights.

Structure: pro (in favor of) + gay (homosexual) - pro: From Latin 'pro' meaning "for, on behalf of, in place of". A prefix indicating support or favor. - gay: From Old French 'gai' meaning "joyful, merry, bright". In modern English, it functions as an adjective primarily meaning "homosexual".