Where does “Dumbledore” come from?
Dumbledore (English) comes from English dumble, from English dumb, from English damn, from Middle English dampnen, from Old French dampner, from Latin damnō, from Latin damnum, from Proto-Italic dapnom — to share, divide.
Ancestry of “Dumbledore”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | dumble | A dale with a stream; A stupid person |
| 2 | English | dumb | Unable to speak; lacking power of speech; Silent;... |
| 3 | English | damn | To condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare... |
| 4 | Middle English | dampnen | to damn |
| 5 | Old French | dampner | to damn |
| 6 | Latin | damnō | — |
| 7 | Latin | damnum | damage or injury; loss; a fine |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | dapnom | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dh₂pnóm | expense, investment |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂p- | to sacrifice; to lose |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂- | to share, divide |