Where does “dwarfish” come from?
Dwarfish comes from Middle English dwergh, from Old English -isċ, from Proto-Germanic dwergaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European -iskos.
dwarfish (English): Like a dwarf; being especially small or stunted;...
Definitions
- Like a dwarf; being especially small or stunted;...
Ancestry of “dwarfish”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | -ish | Typical of, similar to, being like; Somewhat,... |
| 2 | Middle English | -ish | Alternative form of -yssh |
| 3 | Old English | -isċ | -ish |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | -isk | Creates adjectives from nouns |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -iskaz | Forms adjectives from nouns with the sense of... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | -iskos | Characteristic of, typical of, pertaining to |