Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “ember” come from?

Ember comes from Middle English embryne, from Old English ymbryne, from Proto-West Germanic aimuʀjā, from Proto-Germanic aimuzjǭ and aimaz, from Proto-Indo-European h₁ews-.

ember (English): A glowing piece of coal or wood; Smoldering ash;...

Definitions

  1. A glowing piece of coal or wood; Smoldering ash;...

Ancestry of “ember”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishembre—
2Old Englishǣmyrġe—
3Proto-West Germanicaimuʀjāembers, hot coals
4Proto-Germanicaimuzjǭember, hot ash; pyre
5Proto-Germanicaimazsteam, smoke
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₁ews-to burn

Words derived from “ember”

  • emberlike
  • emberless
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₁ews- →