Where does “driftlessness” come from?
driftlessness (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.
driftlessness (English): Quality of being driftless
Definitions
- Quality of being driftless
Ancestry of “driftlessness”, step by step
driftlessness 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 |
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 |