Where does “downward” come from?
Downward comes from Old English -weard combined with Old English dūn, which derives from Proto-Celtic dūnom, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European h₂epo meaning "away" or "off."
downward (English): Toward a lower level, whether in physical space,...
Definitions
- Toward a lower level, whether in physical space,...
Ancestry of “downward”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ward | Forming adverbs denoting course or direction to,... |
| 2 | Old English | -weard | Forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or... |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | wardaz | turned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |