Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “blame” come from?

Blame comes from Middle English blame, from Old French blasme and blasmer, from Ancient Greek βλασφημέω meaning to speak irreverently, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-.

blame (English): Censure; Culpability for something negative or...

Definitions

  1. Censure; Culpability for something negative or...

Ancestry of “blame”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishblamecriticism, condemnation; accusation; blame,...
2Old Frenchblame—
3Old Frenchblasmerto blame
4Latinblastēmāre—
5Ancient GreekβλασφημέωI speak profanely of sacred things, blaspheme; I...
6Ancient Greekβλάσφημοςuttering ill-omened words; jinx; reviling,...
7Ancient Greekφήμηprophetic voice, oracle; rumor; reputation
8Proto-Hellenicpʰā́mā—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-meh₂—
10Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-to shine, glow light; to speak, say
11Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰeh₂-s-ri-—

Words derived from “blame”

  • blaming
  • blamest
  • blameth
  • blamings
  • blamingly
  • victim-blaming
  • victim-blame
  • blamestorm
  • blameshift
  • victim-blamey
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰeh₂-s-ri- →