Where does “breath” come from?
Breath comes from Middle English breth, Old English brǣþ, Proto-Germanic brēþiz, and Proto-Indo-European bʰrē-t-, ultimately deriving from the Proto-Indo-European root bʰer-.
breath (English): The act or process of breathing; A single act of...
Definitions
- The act or process of breathing; A single act of...
Ancestry of “breath”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | breeth | breath |
| 2 | Old English | brǣþ | odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | brēþiz | vapour; steam; breath; odour, smell |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrē-t- | exhalation from heat; steam |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |
Words derived from “breath”