Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “betrothable” come from?

betrothable (English) comes from English betroth, from Middle English bitrouthen, from Middle English bi-, from Old English bī-, from Old English bī, from Proto-West Germanic bī, from Proto-Germanic bi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi — on, onto.

betrothable (English): Fit or able to be betrothed; of marriageable age,...

Definitions

  1. Fit or able to be betrothed; of marriageable age,...

Ancestry of “betrothable”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbetrothTo promise to give in marriage; To promise to...
2Middle Englishbitrouthen—
3Middle Englishbi-—
4Old Englishbī-by, near, around; by-
5Old Englishbīlullaby!; near, by; by, near, around
6Proto-West Germanicbīby, at; near, around
7Proto-Germanicbiby, at; near, around
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
12Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- →