Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “eschew” come from?

Eschew comes from Middle English eschewen, from Anglo-Norman eschiver, from Frankish skiuhan, from Proto-Germanic skiuhwaną meaning to shun or avoid.

eschew (English): To avoid; to shun, to shy away from

Definitions

  1. To avoid; to shun, to shy away from

Ancestry of “eschew”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englisheschewen—
2Anglo-Normaneschiverto escape; to flee; to avoid; to refuse to deny
3Proto-West Germanicskiuhijanto dread, avoid; to shun
4Proto-Germanicskeuhazfrightened; shy; timid; bashful; coy; reserved;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanskewkós—

Words derived from “eschew”

  • eschewal
  • eschewer
  • eschewment
  • umbeschew
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skewkós →