Where does “acid-free” come from?

acid-free (English) comes from English -free, from Middle English -fre, from Old English -frēo, from Old English frēo, from Proto-Germanic *frī, from Proto-Germanic frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós, from Proto-Indo-European preyH- — to love, to please.

acid-free (English): Alkaline or neutral; not acidic

Definitions

  1. Alkaline or neutral; not acidic

Ancestry of “acid-free”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1English-freefree from; devoid of; without
2Middle English-fre—
3Old English-frēo—
4Old Englishfrēofree, joyful
5Proto-Germanic*frī—
6Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please
Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH- →