Where does “stiefvader” come from?
stiefvader (Dutch) comes from Dutch vader, from Middle Dutch vāder, from Old Dutch fadar, from Proto-West Germanic fader, from Proto-Germanic fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.
stiefvader (Dutch): stepfather, stepdad
Ancestry of “stiefvader”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Dutch | vader | father; forefather |
| 2 | Middle Dutch | vāder | — |
| 3 | Old Dutch | fadar | father |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | fader | father |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | fadēr | father |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂tḗr | father |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂- | to protect; to shepherd |