Where does “behest” come from?
Behest comes from Old English behǣs, from Proto-Germanic bi- and Proto-Indo-European h₁epi meaning "over" or "upon," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ki- and key-.
behest (English): A command, bidding; sometimes also, an...
Definitions
- A command, bidding; sometimes also, an...
Ancestry of “behest”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | biheste | A pact or agreement; that which is agreed upon |
| 2 | Old English | behǣs | vow, promise; promise, vow |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | *bihaisi | — |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | haisiz | command |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | haitaną | to address, to call; to name; to be called |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱey- | to be lying down; to settle |