Where does “dewdrop” come from?
Dewdrop is a compound of Middle English deu and drop, ultimately from Old English déaw meaning moisture or liquid.
dewdrop (English): A droplet of water formed as dew; A slow pitch
Definitions
- A droplet of water formed as dew; A slow pitch
Ancestry of “dewdrop”, step by step
dewdrop traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via English drop
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | drop | A small quantity of liquid, just large enough to... |
| 2 | Middle English | droppen | To drip; to fall in drops |
| 3 | Old English | dropian | to drop |
| 4 | Old English | -ian | Forms verbs from nouns and adjectives |
| 5 | Old English | -ōjan | — |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | -ōn | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -ōną | Creates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates... |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -eh₂yéti | Creates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -yéti | Creates intransitive, often deponent,... |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | yé- | — |
| 11 | Chichewa | iye | he, she |
via English dew
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | dew | Any moisture from the atmosphere condensed by... |
| 2 | Middle English | dew | dew; moisture present on plants; A rejuvenating... |
| 3 | Old English | dēaw | dew |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *dauw | moisture |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *dawwaz | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |
via Middle English deu drop
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | deu drop | — |