Where does “dumb” come from?
Dumb comes from Middle English dumb, from Old English dumbian, from Proto-Germanic dumbaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰewbʰ-, itself derived from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂-.
dumb (English): Unable to speak; lacking power of speech; Silent;...
Definitions
- Unable to speak; lacking power of speech; Silent;...
Ancestry of “dumb”, step by step
dumb traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English damn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | damn | To condemn to hell; To condemn; to declare... |
| 2 | Middle English | dampnen | to damn |
| 3 | Old French | dampner | to damn |
| 4 | Latin | damnō | to discredit, find fault, disapprove, reject |
| 5 | Latin | damnum | damage or injury; loss; a fine |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | dapnom | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | dh₂pnóm | expense, investment |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂p- | to sacrifice; to lose |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | deh₂- | to share, divide |