Where does “downdrift” come from?
downdrift (English) comes from English drift, from Middle English drift, from Old English drift, from Proto-Germanic driftiz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.
downdrift (English): A lowering of the pitch of the tones of a tonal...
Definitions
- A lowering of the pitch of the tones of a tonal...
Ancestry of “downdrift”, step by step
downdrift traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English drift
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | drift | Movement; that which moves or is moved; The act... |
| 2 | Middle English | drift | — |
| 3 | Old English | drift | an act of driving (cattle, herds, etc.); movement |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | driftiz | driving |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰreybʰ- | to drive, push |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |