Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “deafening” come from?

Deafening derives from English deafen, formed by adding the English suffix -en to English deaf, which comes from Old English deaf, ultimately from Proto-Germanic jainaz meaning "dull" or "insensible."

deafening (English): Loud enough to cause temporary or permanent...

Definitions

  1. Loud enough to cause temporary or permanent...

Ancestry of “deafening”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdeafenTo make deaf, either temporarily or permanently;...
2EnglishDeafOf or relating to the culture surrounding deaf...
3Middle Englishdef—
4Old Englishdēafdeaf
5Proto-West Germanicdaubstunned; deaf
6Proto-Germanicdaubazstunned; deaf
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewbʰ-deep
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “deafening”

  • deafeningly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →