Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “deathlike” come from?

Deathlike derives from Middle English -like, from Old English -līċ, from Proto-Germanic galīkaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "form" or "appearance" combined with a prefix indicating "together."

deathlike (English): Resembling or characteristic of death; Deadly

Definitions

  1. Resembling or characteristic of death; Deadly

Ancestry of “deathlike”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdeathThe cessation of life and all associated...
2Middle EnglishdethAlternative form of deeth
3Old Englishdēaþdeath
4Old Englishwīcdwelling place, abode; abode, dwelling-place;...
5Germanwitz—
6Middle High Germanwitz—
7Old High Germanwizzi—
8Proto-West Germanicwītīpunishment
9Proto-Germanicwitjąknowledge; reason; sense; understanding; wit
10Proto-Germanic*witaną—
11Proto-Indo-Europeanwóydeto have seen, to know
12Proto-Indo-Europeanweyd-to see
Every word from Proto-Indo-European weyd- →