Where does “begem” come from?

begem (English) comes from English Be, from Middle English be, from Old English bēo, from Proto-West Germanic *bijā, from Proto-Germanic bijō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰī- — to hit, to pierce.

begem (English): To adorn with gems

Definitions

  1. To adorn with gems

Ancestry of “begem”, step by step

begem traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Be

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishBeAs an auxiliary verb
2Middle EnglishbeAlternative form of been; Alternative form of...
3Old EnglishbēoI become, I will be, I am; bee
4Proto-West Germanic*bijābee
5Proto-Germanicbijōbee
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰī-to hit, to pierce

via English gem

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgemA precious stone, usually of substantial monetary...
2Middle Englishgemme—
3Old Englishġimmgem
4Proto-West Germanicgimmugem
5LatingemmaA bud or eye of a plant; A gem, gemstone, jewel,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰī- →Every word from Proto-Germanic bijō →Every word from Proto-West Germanic *bijā →