Where does “Easter” come from?
Easter derives from Proto-Germanic Austrǭ, from Proto-Indo-European h₂éwsōs, originally meaning dawn or the eastern direction.
Easter (English): A Christian feast commemorating the resurrection...
Definitions
- A Christian feast commemorating the resurrection...
Ancestry of “Easter”, step by step
Easter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English Ester
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | Ester | Easter Christian holiday |
| 2 | Old English | Ēastre | a goddess of spring and fertility; the name of a... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | Austrǭ | springtime, Easter; a goddess of spring and... |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ews- | dawn; east; to draw water, scoop up |
via Old English eastera
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | eastera | — |