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
- To avoid; to shun, to shy away from
Ancestry of “eschew”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | eschewen | To avoid or eschew a behaviour, person, place, or situation |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | eschiver | to escape; to flee; to avoid; to refuse to deny |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | skiuhijan | to dread, avoid; to shun |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | skeuhaz | frightened; shy; timid; bashful; coy; reserved;... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | skewkós | — |