Where does “byword” come from?
Byword comes from Middle English byworde, from Old English bīword, from Proto-Germanic bīwurdiją, a compound of bī- and wurdiją meaning "word."
byword (English): A proverb or proverbial expression, common...
Definitions
- A proverb or proverbial expression, common...
Ancestry of “byword”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | byword | byword |
| 2 | Old English | bīword | an adverb |
| 3 | Old English | bīwyrde | proverb, household word", also "adverb |
| 4 | Old English | bī- | by, near, around; by- |
| 5 | Old English | bī | lullaby!; near, by; by, near, around |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | bī | by, at; near, around |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | bi | by, at; near, around |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂m̥bʰi | around, on either side of, about; in exchange... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂n̥tbʰi | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |