Where does “bland” come from?
Bland comes from Latin blandus, from Old English blandan, from Proto-Indo-European meld-, mel-, and mey-, ultimately meaning to mix or blend.
bland (English): Having a soothing effect; not irritating or...
Definitions
- Having a soothing effect; not irritating or...
Ancestry of “bland”, step by step
bland traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Latin blandus
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Latin | blandus | pleasant, agreeable; enticing, seductive,... |
| 2 | Proto-Indo-European | mland- | — |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | meld- | to beat, crush, grind |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via Middle English bland
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bland | — |
| 2 | Old English | bland | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | blandą | a mixing, mixture |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰlendʰ- | to blend, to mix up; to make cloudy, opaque;... |
Words derived from “bland”