Where does “beldame” come from?
beldame (English) comes from Middle English dame, from Old French dame, from Late Latin domna, from Latin domina, from Latin Dominus, from Latin domus, from Proto-Italic domos, from Proto-Indo-European dṓm — to build; to arrange, to put together.
beldame (English): A grandmother; An old woman, particularly an ugly...
Definitions
- A grandmother; An old woman, particularly an ugly...
Ancestry of “beldame”, step by step
beldame traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English dame
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | dame | lady high-ranking or noble woman |
| 2 | Old French | dame | lady; woman |
| 3 | Late Latin | domna | lady, mistress |
| 4 | Latin | domina | lady or mistress of the house |
| 5 | Latin | Dominus | the Lord; Lord; The Lord |
| 6 | Latin | domus | house, home; any building or abode; native place,... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | domos | house, home |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | dṓm | home; house |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | dem- | to build; to arrange, to put together |
via Middle English bel
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bel | Of fine quality: good, nice, appealing;... |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | bel | — |
| 3 | Old French | bel | Alternative form of biau; good, pretty |
| 4 | Latin | bellus | beautiful, pretty, handsome; pleasant, agreeable,... |
| 5 | Latin | villus | hair, tuft of hair, shaggy hair |
| 6 | Latin | vellus | The wool shorn from a sheep; fleece; wool; The... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂welh₁- | to rule; strong, powerful; hair; wool |