Etymology Explorer › American English

Where does “trust” come from?

trust (American English) comes from Middle English truste, from Old Norse traust, from Proto-Germanic traustą, from Proto-Indo-European dreu- — tree; firm, solid, steadfast.

trust (American English): Confidence in or reliance on some person or...

Definitions

  1. Confidence in or reliance on some person or...

Ancestry of “trust”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtrustetrust, protection
2Old Norsetraustconfidence, help, protection; trust; benefit,...
3Proto-Germanictraustąshelter; help; aid; trust; confidence; alliance
4Proto-Indo-Europeandreu-tree; firm, solid, steadfast

Words derived from “trust”

  • antitrust
  • trust
  • tơ-rớt
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dreu- →