Where does “downwardness” come from?
downwardness (English) comes from English downward, from English -ward, from Old English -weard, from Proto-Germanic wardaz, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
downwardness (English): The quality of being or going downward
Definitions
- The quality of being or going downward
Ancestry of “downwardness”, step by step
downwardness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English downward
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | downward | Toward a lower level, whether in physical space,... |
| 2 | English | -ward | Forming adverbs denoting course or direction to,... |
| 3 | Old English | -weard | Forming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wardaz | turned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | werþaz | worthy, valuable |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wert- | to turn, to rotate |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |