Where does “rotten” come from?

rotten (Dutch) comes from Middle Dutch rotten, from Middle Dutch roten, from Old Dutch roton, from Proto-Germanic *rotēn, from Proto-Germanic rutāną, from Proto-Indo-European Hrewd- — to tear; rend.

rotten (Dutch): to rot, to go bad, to decay

Definitions

  1. to rot, to go bad, to decay

Ancestry of “rotten”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Dutchrotten
2Middle Dutchroten
3Old Dutchrotonto rot
4Proto-Germanic*rotēn
5Proto-Germanicrutānąto rot
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewd-to tear; rend

Words derived from “rotten

Every word from Proto-Indo-European Hrewd-
rotten — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer