Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “dare” come from?

Dare comes from Old English darian, which developed from Old English durran, derived from Proto-Germanic durzaną, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European dʰers-.

dare (English): To have enough courage; To defy or challenge; To...

Definitions

  1. To have enough courage; To defy or challenge; To...

Ancestry of “dare”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishdurrenTo dare, be willing to do in the face of...
2Old Englishdurranto dare
3Proto-West Germanicdurʀanto dare
4Proto-Germanicdurzanąto dare
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰedʰórseto dare
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰers-to be bold, to dare
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

Words derived from “dare”

  • daring
  • daren't
  • daringly
  • daredevil
  • darest
  • dast
  • dareth
  • daringness
  • dassn't
  • daredevilry
  • darer
  • dareful
  • outdare
  • bedare
  • undaring
  • overdare
  • daresome
  • dairous
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →