Where does “brotherless” come from?
brotherless (English) comes from Middle English brotherles, from Old English brōþorlēas, from Proto-Germanic brōþērlausaz, from Proto-Germanic -lausaz, from Proto-Germanic lausaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewH- — louse.
brotherless (English): Without a brother
Definitions
- Without a brother
Ancestry of “brotherless”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | brotherles | brotherless |
| 2 | Old English | brōþorlēas | brotherless |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | brōþērlausaz | without a brother |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | -lausaz | -less, lacking, devoid of |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | lausaz | loose, free; empty, devoid; false, untrue |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewH- | louse |