Where does “greenness” come from?
Greenness derives from Old English grennes, formed from Old English grēne with the suffix Old English -nes, ultimately from Proto-Germanic grōniz and Proto-Indo-European gʰreH₁-, a root meaning to grow.
greenness (English): The state or quality of being green; green...
Definitions
- The state or quality of being green; green...
Ancestry of “greenness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | grennes | greenness |
| 2 | Old English | -nes | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | -nassī | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | -inassuz | -ness |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | -ī | -ness, -th |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | -į̄ | -th |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -íh₂ | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -h₂ | Creates collective nouns, which refer to groups... |