Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “frozen” come from?

Frozen comes from English freeze, which derives from Middle English fresen, from Old English frēosan, from Proto-Germanic frusaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *preus- meaning to freeze or burn.

frozen (English): Having undergone the process of freezing; in ice...

Definitions

  1. Having undergone the process of freezing; in ice...

Ancestry of “frozen”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishfrozen—
2Middle EnglishfresenTo freeze; to become frozen or reach freezing...
3Old Englishfrēosanto freeze
4Proto-West Germanicfreusanto freeze
5Proto-Germanicfreusanąto freeze
6Proto-Indo-Europeanprews-to freeze; frost

Words derived from “frozen”

  • unfrozen
  • nonfrozen
  • frozenness
  • semifrozen
  • frozenly
  • permafrozen
  • frozen cow juice
Every word from Proto-Indo-European prews- →