Where does “hindsight” come from?

Hindsight comes from Middle English siȝht combined with the prefix hind- from Proto-Germanic hinder, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European sekʷ- meaning to see or follow.

hindsight (English): Realisation or understanding of the significance...

Definitions

  1. Realisation or understanding of the significance...

Ancestry of “hindsight”, step by step

hindsight traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English hind

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhindLocated at the rear; A female deer, especially a...
2Middle Englishhind—
3Old Englishhindhind, doe
4Proto-Germanichindizdoe, hind
5Proto-Germanichemdiz—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱem-to cover, conceal; hornless

via English sight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsightThe ability to see; The act of seeing; perception...
2Middle Englishsightesight
3Middle Englishsiken—
4Old Englishsīcanto sigh
5Proto-West Germanic*sīkanto sigh, take a deep breath

Words derived from “hindsight”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱem- →