Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “harming” come from?

Harming derives from Old English hearm through Middle English harm, with roots in Proto-Germanic harmaz and Proto-Indo-European ḱormo-, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root pḱer-.

harming (English): present participle of harm

Definitions

  1. present participle of harm

Ancestry of “harming”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishharmphysical injury; hurt; damage; emotional or...
2Middle Englishharm—
3Old Englishhearmharm
4Proto-West Germanicharmpainful; pain, harm
5Proto-Germanicharmazpainful; sorrowful; doleful; harmful; malicious;...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱormo-suffering, pain

Words derived from “harming”

  • unharming
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱormo- →