Where does “enlightener” come from?
enlightener (English) comes from English enlighten, from Middle English enlightenen, from Old English inlīhtan, from Proto-Germanic inliuhtijaną, from Proto-Germanic liuhtijaną, from Proto-Indo-European lewḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European lewk- — bright; to shine; to see.
enlightener (English): One who, or that which, enlightens
Definitions
- One who, or that which, enlightens
Ancestry of “enlightener”, step by step
enlightener traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English enlighten
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | enlighten | To supply with light; To make something clear to... |
| 2 | Middle English | enlightenen | — |
| 3 | Old English | inlīhtan | to illuminate, enlighten |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | inliuhtijaną | to enlighten, illumine |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | liuhtijaną | to give light, shine |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | lewḱ- | lynx |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | lewk- | bright; to shine; to see |
via English ER
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ER | The statistic "Earned Run"; Initialism of... |
| 2 | Turkish | er | early; brave; man, male |
| 3 | Ottoman Turkish | ایر | saddle, a seat for a rider placed on the back of a horse or other animal |
| 4 | Old Anatolian Turkish | ایر | early, at a time in advance of the usual or expected event |
| 5 | Proto-Turkic | ēder | saddle |