Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Jonestown” come from?

Jonestown is a place name derived from town, which comes from Middle English toun, Old English tūn, Proto-Germanic tūną, Gaulish dunum, Proto-Celtic dūnom, and Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂-.

Jonestown (English): Any mass suicide or murder, especially one with...

Definitions

  1. Any mass suicide or murder, especially one with...

Ancestry of “Jonestown”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishtownA settlement; an area with residential districts,...
2EnglishFreetown—
3EnglishfreeUnconstrained; Obtainable without any payment;...
4Middle Englishfree—
5Old Englishfrēofree, joyful
6Proto-Germanic*frī—
7Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please

Words derived from “Jonestown”

  • Jonestowner
Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH- →