Where does “asper” come from?

asper (English) comes from Middle English asper, from Italian aspro, from Ancient Greek ἄσπρον, from Latin asper, from Proto-Indo-European h₂esp- — to cut.

asper (English): Rough or harsh; severe, stern, serious; Rough...

Definitions

  1. Rough or harsh; severe, stern, serious; Rough...

Ancestry of “asper”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishasper—
2Italianasprosharp, tart; sour, pungent, bitter; rugged
3Ancient Greekἄσπρον—
4Latinasperrough, uneven, coarse; unrefined, rude; sharp,...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂esp-to cut
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂esp- →Every word from Latin asper →Every word from Ancient Greek ἄσπρον →