Where does “faintward” come from?

faintward (English) comes from English ward, from Middle English ward, from Old English weard, from Old English ōra, from Old English ēar, from Proto-Germanic ahaz, from Proto-Finnic ahtas, from Proto-Baltic anśtas — to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

faintward (English): Towards the fainter part of the galaxy

Definitions

  1. Towards the fainter part of the galaxy

Ancestry of “faintward”, step by step

faintward traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English ward

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwardA warden; a guard; a guardian or watchman;...
2Middle Englishwardward, keeping
3Old Englishweardguard; guard, the action of looking out for...
4Old Englishōraore, unwrought metal
5Old Englishēarsea, ocean; grave, earth
6Proto-Germanicahazear
7Proto-Finnicahtasnarrow, cramped
8Proto-Balticanśtas
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂énǵʰusnarrow, tight
10Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂enǵʰ-to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;...

via English faint

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishfaintLacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to lose...
2Middle Englishfainten
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂enǵʰ-