Where does “daven” come from?
daven (English) comes from Yiddish דאַוונען, from Middle High German dœnen, from Middle High German tœnen, from Middle High German tōn, from Latin tonus, from Ancient Greek τόνος, from Proto-Hellenic tónos, from Proto-Indo-European tónos — to stretch, to extend.
daven (English): to recite the Jewish liturgy; to pray
Definitions
- to recite the Jewish liturgy; to pray
Ancestry of “daven”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yiddish | דאַוונען | to pray, daven |
| 2 | Middle High German | dœnen | — |
| 3 | Middle High German | tœnen | — |
| 4 | Middle High German | tōn | — |
| 5 | Latin | tonus | The stretching or straining of a rope; A strain;... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | τόνος | rope, cord; chord; tone, note |
| 7 | Proto-Hellenic | tónos | rope, cord; tension |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | tónos | something stretched; chord, fiber, string |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ten- | to stretch, to extend |