Where does “between-step” come from?

between-step (English) comes from English between, from Middle English betwene, from Old English betwēonum, from Old English be, from Proto-West Germanic bī, from Proto-Germanic bi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂n̥tbʰi — on, onto.

between-step (English): An intermediate or intermediary step, stage,...

Definitions

  1. An intermediate or intermediary step, stage,...

Ancestry of “between-step”, step by step

between-step traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English between

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbetweenIn the position or interval that separates (two things), or intermediate in quantity or degree. (See Usage notes below.)
2Middle Englishbetwene
3Old Englishbetwēonumbetween, among, amid, in the midst, meanwhile;...
4Old Englishbeby
5Proto-West Germanicby, at; near, around
6Proto-Germanicbiby, at; near, around
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂m̥bʰiaround, on either side of, about; in exchange...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂n̥tbʰi
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂éntsforehead; front
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂ent-face; forehead; front
11Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂en-on, onto

via English step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishstepAn advance or movement made from one foot to the...
2EnglishstepchildThe child of one's spouse but not one's own; A...
3Middle Englishstepchildstepchild child of a spouse
4Old Englishstēopċildstepchild
5Old Englishċildchild, youth; fetus; female baby; child
6Proto-Germanickelþazfetus; newborn; infant; child
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵelt-womb
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂en-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts