Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “eavesdropper” come from?

Eavesdropper derives from English eavesdrop, formed from Old French -er and Latin -are, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European dʰrew-, meaning to run or flow.

eavesdropper (English): One who eavesdrops; A surveillance aircraft

Definitions

  1. One who eavesdrops; A surveillance aircraft

Ancestry of “eavesdropper”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglisheavesdropTo hear a conversation one is not intended to...
2EnglishdropA small quantity of liquid, just large enough to...
3Middle Englishdroppen—
4Old Englishdropianto drop
5Old English-ianForms verbs from nouns and adjectives
6Old English-ōjan—
7Proto-West Germanic-ōnCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
8Proto-Germanic-ōnąCreates denominative verbs from nouns; Creates...
9Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
10Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
11Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-—
12Chichewaiyehe, she
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