Where does “-ling” come from?
-ling (English) comes from Middle English -ling, from Old English -ling, from Old English lang, from Proto-West Germanic lang, from Proto-Germanic langaz, from Proto-Indo-European dlongʰos — long.
-ling (English): small, immature, miniature; follower or resident;...
Definitions
- small, immature, miniature; follower or resident;...
Ancestry of “-ling”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | -ling | An adverbial suffix denoting direction, state or position |
| 2 | Old English | -ling | adverbial suffix denoting direction, state or... |
| 3 | Old English | lang | long; lasting; old, ancient; advanced |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | lang | long |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | langaz | long |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dlongʰos | long |