Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “beknow” come from?

beknow (English) comes from Middle English beknowen, from Old English becnāwan, from Old English be, from Proto-West Germanic bī, from Proto-Germanic bi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂n̥tbʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts — on, onto.

beknow (English): To know about; have knowledge of; recognise;...

Definitions

  1. To know about; have knowledge of; recognise;...

Ancestry of “beknow”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishbeknowen—
2Old Englishbecnāwanto know, know about
3Old Englishbeby
4Proto-West Germanicbīby, at; near, around
5Proto-Germanicbiby, at; near, around
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi—
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

Words derived from “beknow”

  • beknowing
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →