Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “barrenwort” come from?

barrenwort (English) comes from English wort, from Middle English wort, from Old English wyrt, from Old English bisċop, from Latin episcopus, from Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος, from Ancient Greek ἐπισκοπέω, from Ancient Greek ἐπι- — to be hot; to burn.

barrenwort (English): A herb, Epimedium alpinum, once thought to...

Definitions

  1. A herb, Epimedium alpinum, once thought to...

Ancestry of “barrenwort”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwortA plant; herb; vegetable; Any of various plants...
2Middle EnglishwortA plant; Wort or an analogous mixture
3Old Englishwyrtplant; herb; wort
4Old Englishbisċopbishop
5Latinepiscopusan overseer, supervisor, bishop in a Christian...
6Ancient Greekἐπίσκοποςwatcher, guardian; scout, watch; overseer,...
7Ancient GreekἐπισκοπέωI watch over
8Ancient Greekἐπι-on, upon, on top of, all over, covering; on,...
9Ancient Greekἐπίas well, besides; For usage in composition, see...
10Ancient GreekἩμέρα—
11Ancient Greekἦμαρday; by day; midday
12Proto-Hellenicā́mər—
13Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃mr̥heat
14Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂eh₃-to be hot; to burn
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂eh₃- →