Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “haunting” come from?

Haunting comes from Middle English haunten, from Old French hanter, from Old English hāmettan, meaning to frequent or visit a place regularly.

haunting (English): present participle of haunt; Remaining in the...

Definitions

  1. present participle of haunt; Remaining in the...

Ancestry of “haunting”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhauntTo inhabit, or visit frequently; To make uneasy,...
2Middle Englishhauntento reside, inhabit, use, employ
3Old Frenchhanterto frequent, abide in one place; to frequent...
4Old Englishhāmettanto bring home; provide a home for; house; to...
5Old Englishhāmhome; village, community; village, hamlet, manor,...
6Proto-West Germanichaimhome
7Proto-Germanichaimazhome; house; village
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱóymosof the home, belonging to the family; village,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle

Words derived from “haunting”

  • hauntingness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →