Where does “backwardism” come from?
backwardism (English) comes from English backward, from Middle English bakwarde, from English -ward, from Old English -weard, from Proto-Germanic wardaz, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
backwardism (English): The state of being backward, or going against progress; backwardness
Definitions
- The state of being backward, or going against progress; backwardness
Ancestry of “backwardism”, step by step
backwardism traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English backward
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | backward | In the direction towards the back; In the... |
| 2 | Middle English | bakwarde | — |
| 3 | English | -ward | Forming adverbs denoting course or direction to,... |
| 4 | Old English | -weard | Forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wardaz | turned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form... |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |
via English ism
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ism | An ideology, system of thought, or practice that... |
| 2 | English | -ism | Used to form nouns of action or process or result... |
| 3 | Latin | -ismus | -ism |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | -ισμός | Forms abstract nouns |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | -μός | Forms abstract nouns |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -mós | Creates action/result nouns from verb stems |