Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “eavesdropping” come from?

Eavesdropping derives from English eavesdrop, combining Middle English eves with Old English dropa, rooted in Proto-Germanic drupô and ultimately Proto-Indo-European dʰrew-.

eavesdropping (English): present participle of eavesdrop; Listening...

Definitions

  1. present participle of eavesdrop; Listening...

Ancestry of “eavesdropping”, 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

Words derived from “eavesdropping”

  • eavesdroppingly
Every word from Chichewa iye →