Where does “fickle” come from?
Fickle comes from Middle English fikil, from Old English ficol, derived from the Proto-Indo-European root peyǵ- meaning to cut or separate, referring to something easily divided or changeable.
fickle (English): Quick to change one’s opinion or allegiance;...
Definitions
- Quick to change one’s opinion or allegiance;...
Ancestry of “fickle”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | fikil | — |
| 2 | Old English | ficol | deceitful; crafty; false |
| 3 | Old English | fician | to deceive; bewile, mislead, con |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | fikōną | to deceive |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | peyǵ- | inactive, reluctant |
Words derived from “fickle”