Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “highest” come from?

Highest derives from English high, from Middle English hiȝe, from Old English hēah, from Proto-West Germanic hugi, from Proto-Germanic hauhaz, from Proto-Indo-European kewk-, from Proto-Indo-European kew-.

highest (English): superlative form of high: most high

Definitions

  1. superlative form of high: most high

Ancestry of “highest”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhighElevated, extending above a base or average...
2Middle Englishheighhigh; Alternative form of hey; Alternative form...
3Old Englishhēahhigh, tall, lofty, high-class, exalted, sublime,...
4Old Englishhāmhome; village, community; village, hamlet, manor,...
5Proto-West Germanichaimhome
6Proto-Germanichaimazhome; house; village
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱóymosof the home, belonging to the family; village,...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱey- →