Where does “driftlessly” come from?
driftlessly (English) comes from English driftless, 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.
driftlessly (English): In a driftless manner
Definitions
- In a driftless manner
Ancestry of “driftlessly”, step by step
driftlessly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English driftless
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | driftless | Having no drift or direction; without aim;... |
| 2 | English | drift | Movement; that which moves or is moved; The act... |
| 3 | Middle English | drift | — |
| 4 | Old English | drift | an act of driving (cattle, herds, etc.); movement |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | driftiz | driving |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰreybʰ- | to drive, push |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰer- | to support; to hold |