Where does “freeman” come from?

Freeman comes from Middle English freeman, from Middle English man and English free, ultimately tracing through Proto-Germanic mann- and Proto-Indo-European men- meaning "to think" and ḱóm meaning "with."

freeman (English): A free person, "particularly"

Definitions

  1. A free person, "particularly"

Ancestry of “freeman”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishfreomannfreeman someone not enslaved
2Old Englishfrēofree, joyful
3Proto-Germanic*frī—
4Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please

Words derived from “freeman”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European priHós →Every word from Proto-Germanic frijaz →