Where does “homewrecking” come from?

homewrecking (English) comes from English wrecking, from English wreck, from Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse wrek, from Proto-Germanic wrekaną, from Proto-Indo-European wreǵ- — to work, act.

homewrecking (English): The act of one who wrecks a home; the break-up of...

Definitions

  1. The act of one who wrecks a home; the break-up of...

Ancestry of “homewrecking”, step by step

homewrecking traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English wrecking

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishwreckingpresent participle of wreck; The act by which...
2EnglishwreckSomething or someone that has been ruined; The...
3Middle Englishwrekwreck
4Anglo-Normanwrekshipwreck
5Old Norsewrek
6Proto-Germanicwrekanąto pursue, to drive out
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwreǵ-to work, act

via English Home

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHomeA key that when pressed causes the cursor to go...
2Middle Englishhōmhome, residence, dwelling
3Old Englishhāmhome; village, community; village, hamlet, manor,...
4Proto-West Germanichaimhome
5Proto-Germanichaimazhome; house; village
6Proto-Indo-Europeanḱóymosof the home, belonging to the family; village,...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱey-to be lying down; to settle
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wreǵ-Every word from Proto-Germanic wrekanąEvery word from Old Norse wrek
homewrecking — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer