Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bleary” come from?

Bleary comes from Middle English blery, of uncertain origin and meaning.

bleary (English): Tired, having senses dulled by exhaustion

Definitions

  1. Tired, having senses dulled by exhaustion

Ancestry of “bleary”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishblery—
2EnglishbloodyCovered in blood; Characterised by bloodshed;...
3Middle Englishblody—
4Old Englishblōdiġ—
5Proto-Germanicblōþagazbloody
6Proto-Germanicblōþąblood
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰleh₃-bloom, flower
8Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰel-to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰōl-—

Words derived from “bleary”

  • blearily
  • bleariness
  • bleary-eyed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰōl- →