Where does “-free” come from?
-free (English) comes from Middle English -fre, from Old English -frēo, from Old English frēo, from Proto-Germanic *frī, from Proto-Germanic frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós, from Proto-Indo-European preyH- — to love, to please.
-free (English): free from; devoid of; without
Definitions
- free from; devoid of; without
Ancestry of “-free”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | -fre | — |
| 2 | Old English | -frēo | — |
| 3 | Old English | frēo | free, joyful |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *frī | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | frijaz | free |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | priHós | dear, beloved; happy, free |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | preyH- | to love, to please |
Words derived from “-free”