Where does “brightness” come from?
Brightness is from Middle English bryghtnes, from Old English beorhtnes, formed with the Old English suffix -nes from Proto-West Germanic berht, from Proto-Germanic berhtaz and the Proto-Germanic suffix -inōną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European bʰereg-.
brightness (English): The quality of being bright; The perceived...
Definitions
- The quality of being bright; The perceived...
Ancestry of “brightness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | bryghtnes | — |
| 2 | Old English | beorhtnes | brightness |
| 3 | Old English | beorht | bright, clear |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *berht | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | berhtaz | bright, shining |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | hrabnaz | raven |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱorh₂- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱer- | to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | kr̥- | to turn, to bend |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | ker- | army |