Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “busybodyism” come from?

busybodyism (English) comes from English busybody, from English Body, from Middle English bode, from Old English boda, from Proto-Germanic budô, from Proto-Germanic beudaną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰewdʰ- — to be awake, be aware.

busybodyism (English): The behaviour of a busybody; interfering,...

Definitions

  1. The behaviour of a busybody; interfering,...

Ancestry of “busybodyism”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbusybodySomeone who interferes with others; one who is...
2EnglishBody—
3Middle Englishbodemessenger
4Old Englishbodamessenger, envoy, herald, apostle, angel; prophet
5Proto-Germanicbudômessenger
6Proto-Germanicbeudanąto offer, to bid
7Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰewdʰ-to be awake, be aware
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰewdʰ- →