Where does “gloat” come from?
Gloat comes from Middle English gloten, from Old Norse glotta, of unknown ultimate origin.
gloat (English): To exhibit a conspicuous pleasure or sense of...
Definitions
- To exhibit a conspicuous pleasure or sense of...
Ancestry of “gloat”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gloten | — |
| 2 | Old Norse | glotta | to grin, smile scornfully |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | glutōną | To stare; gawk |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰel- | to shine, glimmer, glow; to shimmer, gleam;... |
Words derived from “gloat”