Where does “gnatlike” come from?
gnatlike (English) comes from English like, from Dutch luik, from Middle Dutch luke, from Dutch luiken, from Middle Dutch luken, from Old Dutch lūcan, from Proto-West Germanic lūkan, from Proto-Germanic lūkaną — to break, tear; to break, shatter.
gnatlike (English): Resembling a gnat or some aspect of one; tiny,...
Definitions
- Resembling a gnat or some aspect of one; tiny,...
Ancestry of “gnatlike”, step by step
gnatlike traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English like
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | like | To enjoy, be pleased by; favor; be in favor of;... |
| 2 | Dutch | luik | hatch; shutter; panel, as in a triptych |
| 3 | Middle Dutch | luke | — |
| 4 | Dutch | luiken | to close, to shut |
| 5 | Middle Dutch | luken | to close, to shut; to close, to become closed |
| 6 | Old Dutch | lūcan | to close, shut |
| 7 | Proto-West Germanic | lūkan | to close, to shut |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | lūkaną | to close, to shut; Alternative form of *leukaną |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | lewǵ- | to break, tear; to break, shatter |
via English Gnat
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Gnat | A type of jet fighter aircraft |
| 2 | Middle English | gnat | A gnat or similar insect; Something of little... |
| 3 | Old English | gnætt | a small flying insect or midge; gnat |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *gnatt | gnat, mosquito |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | gnattaz | A bite or scratch; A biting insect; mosquito |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰneHdʰn- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | gʰen- | to gnaw; bite; scratch; grind; to gnaw; bite;... |