Where does “ernest” come from?
ernest (English) comes from German ērnst, from Middle High German ërnest, from Old High German ernust, from Proto-Germanic ernustuz, from Proto-Germanic arniz, from Proto-Indo-European er- — eagle, bird; loose, light, rare, sparse; to fail,...
ernest (English): Obsolete form of earnest
Ancestry of “ernest”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | German | ērnst | — |
| 2 | Middle High German | ërnest | — |
| 3 | Old High German | ernust | serious |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | ernustuz | seriousness; earnest; strength; solidity;... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | arniz | efficient, capable, diligent, sure |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | er- | eagle, bird; loose, light, rare, sparse; to fail,... |