Where does “chosenness” come from?
Chosenness is an English formation combining chosen with the Old English suffix -nes, derived from Proto-Germanic -inassuz, ultimately from Proto-Germanic -inōną meaning to select or pick out.
chosenness (English): The quality of being chosen
Definitions
- The quality of being chosen
Ancestry of “chosenness”, step by step
chosenness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English chosen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | chosen | past participle of choose; picked; selected;... |
| 2 | Middle English | chosen | chosen; to choose |
| 3 | Old English | ċēosan | to choose, seek out, select, elect, decide, test,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | keusan | to choose |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | keusaną | to test, to try; to choose |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵews- | to taste, try |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |