Where does “blossom” come from?
Blossom comes from Middle English blosme, Old English blōstma, and Proto-Germanic blōsmaz, which derive from the Proto-Indo-European root bʰleh₃- meaning to bloom or flourish.
blossom (English): A flower, especially one indicating that a fruit...
Definitions
- A flower, especially one indicating that a fruit...
Ancestry of “blossom”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | blosme | A flower or blossom; An outstanding or... |
| 2 | Old English | blōstma | flower, blossom |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | blōsmaz | Alternative form of *blōstmô |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | blōstaz | blossoming |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰleh₃-s- | bloom, flower |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰleh₃- | bloom, flower |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰel- | to sound; to speak, roar, bark; shiny, white; to... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰōl- | — |