Where does “fiendish” come from?
Fiendish derives from Middle English -isch and Old English -isċ suffixed to Old English fēond, from Proto-Germanic fijandz meaning enemy, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European peh₁-.
fiendish (English): Sinister; evil; like a fiend
Definitions
- Sinister; evil; like a fiend
Ancestry of “fiendish”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | fiend | A devil or demon; a malignant or diabolical... |
| 2 | Middle English | fēnd | An enemy, foe or fiend |
| 3 | Old English | fēond | enemy; adversary, foe, enemy, fiend, devil,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | *fijand | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | fijandz | enemy, fiend |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | fijāną | to hate; to dislike |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₁- | to hate, hurt |