Where does “WordNet” come from?

WordNet (English) comes from English word, from Middle English word, from Old English worð, from Proto-Germanic *word, from Proto-Germanic wurdą, from Proto-Indo-European werdʰo-, from Proto-Indo-European werh₁- — to speak, say.

WordNet (English): A particular wordnet, a semantically structured lexical database, for the English language at Princeton University

Definitions

  1. A particular wordnet, a semantically structured lexical database, for the English language at Princeton University

Ancestry of “WordNet”, step by step

WordNet traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English word

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwordThe smallest unit of language that has a...
2Middle EnglishwordA word; A statement; a linguistic unit said or...
3Old Englishworðword
4Proto-Germanic*word—
5Proto-Germanicwurdąword
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwerdʰo-word
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwerh₁-to speak, say

via English net

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnetA mesh of string, cord or rope; A device made...
2Middle Englishnett—
3Old Englishnettnet
4Proto-West Germanicnatinet
5Proto-Germanicnatjąnet
6Proto-Indo-Europeanned-to be wet; wet; to tie together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European werh₁- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European werdʰo- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wurdą →