Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cheerlead” come from?

cheerlead (English) comes from English cheerleader, from English cheer, from Middle English chere, from Anglo-Norman chere, from Old French chiere, from Latin cara, from Latin cārus, from Proto-Italic kāros — to desire, wish.

cheerlead (English): To participate in cheerleading; To support...

Definitions

  1. To participate in cheerleading; To support...

Ancestry of “cheerlead”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcheerleaderA person, usually a young, attractive female, who...
2EnglishcheerA cheerful attitude; happiness; a good, happy, or...
3Middle Englishcherestate of mind as indicated by facial expression;...
4Anglo-Normanchere—
5Old Frenchchiereface; oblique/nominative feminine singular of...
6Latincaranominative feminine singular of cārus; nominative...
7Latincārus—
8Proto-Italickārosdear
9Proto-Indo-Europeankéh₂rosloved; dear
10Proto-Indo-Europeankeh₂-to desire, wish

Words derived from “cheerlead”

  • cheerleading
  • チアリーディング
Every word from Proto-Indo-European keh₂- →