Where does “kerstavond” come from?
kerstavond (Dutch) comes from Dutch avond, from Middle Dutch âvont, from Old Dutch āvont, from Proto-West Germanic ābanþ, from Proto-Germanic ēbanþs, from Proto-Indo-European h₁epi, from Proto-Indo-European h₁eps.
kerstavond (Dutch): Christmas Eve
Definitions
- Christmas Eve
Ancestry of “kerstavond”, step by step
kerstavond traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Dutch avond
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | avond | evening, night |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | âvont | evening (starting an hour before sunset, considered the start of a new day) |
| 3 | Old Dutch | āvont | evening |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | ābanþ | evening |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | ēbanþs | evening |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁epi | on, at, near |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₁eps | — |
via Dutch Kerst
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dutch | Kerst | Christ |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | kerst | Christ |
| 3 | Latin | Chrīstus | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | Χριστός | anointed; messiah; annointed, the annointed one,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χρίω | to rub or smear (especially the body) with oil or unguents; to anoint |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰrēy- | to smear; to paint, streak, smear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰer- | to rub; to stroke; to grind |