Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “deem” come from?

Deem comes from Middle English demen, from Old English dēman, from Proto-Germanic dōmijaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁-, a root related to dʰóh₁mos meaning judgment or verdict.

deem (English): To judge, to pass judgment on; to doom, to...

Definitions

  1. To judge, to pass judgment on; to doom, to...

Ancestry of “deem”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishdẹ̄men—
2Old Englishdēmanto judge; to decide, decree, deem, determine,...
3Proto-West Germanicdōmijanto judge, to deem
4Proto-Germanicdōmijanąto judge
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰeh₁-to do, put, place

Words derived from “deem”

  • deemest
  • deemeth
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰeh₁- →