Where does “gaslighter” come from?

gaslighter (English) comes from English lighter, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

gaslighter (English): One who, or that which, lights gas; One who...

Definitions

  1. One who, or that which, lights gas; One who...

Ancestry of “gaslighter”, step by step

gaslighter traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via English lighter

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishlightercomparative form of light: more light; One who,...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English gaslight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgaslightA lamp which operates by burning piped...
2EnglishLightA place name
3Middle EnglishlightThe radiation which allows for vision by...
4Old Englishlēohtluminous, bright, light, clear, resplendent,...
5Proto-West Germanicleuhtlight, bright; light
6Proto-Germanicleuhtąlight
7Proto-Indo-Europeanlewktom
8Proto-Indo-Europeanlewk-bright; to shine; to see

via English ER

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishERThe statistic "Earned Run"; Initialism of...
2Turkisherearly; brave; man, male
3Ottoman Turkishایرsaddle, a seat for a rider placed on the back of a horse or other animal
4Old Anatolian Turkishایرearly, at a time in advance of the usual or expected event
5Proto-Turkicēdersaddle
Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from English -erEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yéti