Where does “forefatherly” come from?
forefatherly (English) comes from English forefather, from Middle English forefader, from Old English forefæder, from Old English fæder, from Proto-West Germanic fader, from Proto-Germanic fadēr, from Proto-Indo-European ph₂tḗr, from Proto-Indo-European peh₂- — to protect; to shepherd.
forefatherly (English): Characteristic of a forefather
Definitions
- Characteristic of a forefather
Ancestry of “forefatherly”, step by step
forefatherly traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English forefather
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | forefather | Ancestor; Cultural ancestor; one who originated... |
| 2 | Middle English | forefader | — |
| 3 | Old English | forefæder | forefather |
| 4 | Old English | fæder | father |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | fader | father |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | fadēr | father |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ph₂tḗr | father |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | peh₂- | to protect; to shepherd |