Where does “befreckled” come from?
befreckled (English) comes from English freckled, from English freckle, from Middle English freken, from Old Norse freknur, from Proto-Germanic sprekalą, from Proto-Indo-European sp(h)er(e)g- — to strew, sprinkle.
befreckled (English): Covered in freckles
Definitions
- Covered in freckles
Ancestry of “befreckled”, step by step
befreckled traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English freckled
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | freckled | Having freckles; covered with freckles |
| 2 | English | freckle | A small brownish or reddish pigmentation spot on... |
| 3 | Middle English | freken | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | freknur | speckles |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | sprekalą | freckle |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sp(h)er(e)g- | to strew, sprinkle |
via English Be
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Be | As an auxiliary verb |
| 2 | Middle English | be | Alternative form of been; Alternative form of... |
| 3 | Old English | bēo | I become, I will be, I am; bee |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | biumi | first-person singular present active indicative... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *beuną | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰew- | to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to... |