Where does “alarmingly” come from?
Alarmingly derives from English alarming, which comes from Middle French alarme, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- meaning "to fit or join," via Latin arma and Proto-Germanic galīkaz.
alarmingly (English): In an alarming way, frighteningly; Causing fear...
Definitions
- In an alarming way, frighteningly; Causing fear...
Ancestry of “alarmingly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | alarming | present participle of alarm; causing... |
| 2 | English | alarm | A summons to arms, as on the approach of an... |
| 3 | Middle English | alarme | — |
| 4 | Middle French | alarme | — |
| 5 | Italian | all'arme | a command to take up arms and be ready to fight: to arms! |
| 6 | Latin | arma | defensive arms, armor/armour, shields, weapons of... |
| 7 | Late Latin | armistitium | — |
| 8 | Latin | sistere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | stísteh₂ti | to be standing up, to be getting up |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | steh₂- | to stand |