Where does “adown” come from?
Adown derives from Middle English adowne, from Old English adūn, a compound of Old English ofdūne (from of and dūn) and ultimately from Proto-Germanic ab and Proto-Indo-European h₂epo, both meaning "away" or "off."
adown (English): Down, downward; to or in a lower place; Down
Definitions
- Down, downward; to or in a lower place; Down
Ancestry of “adown”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | adoun | — |
| 2 | Old English | adūn | — |
| 3 | Old English | ofdūne | off the hill; down |
| 4 | Old English | dūn | hill, down; hill, dune; hill, mountain |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *dūnā | — |
| 6 | Proto-Celtic | dūnom | stronghold, rampart |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |