Where does “breathtakingness” come from?

breathtakingness (English) comes from English breathtaking, from English breath, from Middle English breeth, from Old English brǣþ, from Proto-Germanic brēþiz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrē-t-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- — to bear, carry.

breathtakingness (English): The quality of being breathtaking

Definitions

  1. The quality of being breathtaking

Ancestry of “breathtakingness”, step by step

breathtakingness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English breathtaking

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishbreathtakingstunningly beautiful; amazing; Very surprising or...
2EnglishbreathThe act or process of breathing; A single act of...
3Middle Englishbreethbreath
4Old Englishbrǣþodor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor
5Proto-Germanicbrēþizvapour; steam; breath; odour, smell
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrē-t-exhalation from heat; steam
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰer-to bear, carry

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰer-