Where does “bitterroot” come from?

bitterroot (English) comes from English bitter, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

bitterroot (English): Lewisia rediviva, a small, low, pink flower with...

Definitions

  1. Lewisia rediviva, a small, low, pink flower with...

Ancestry of “bitterroot”, step by step

bitterroot traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English bitter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbitterHaving an acrid taste; Harsh, piercing or...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English root

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrootThe part of a plant, generally underground, that...
2Middle EnglishroteThe root; The foundation or base of a...
3Old Frenchroteroute, path
4Latinruptanominative feminine singular of ruptus;...
5Latinruptusbroken; ruptured, burst
6Latinrumpōto break, burst, tear, rend, rupture; break asunder, force open
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrunéptito be breaking
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrewp-to break, tear
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanHrew-to tear out, dig out, open, acquire
Every word from Chichewa iye
bitterroot — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer