Where does “hovering” come from?

Hovering comes from Middle English hoveren, of uncertain origin and meaning.

hovering (English): present participle of hover; The act of one who...

Definitions

  1. present participle of hover; The act of one who...

Ancestry of “hovering”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishhoverTo float in the air; To linger or hang in one...
2Middle Englishhoverenhover
3Middle Englishhovento linger, wait, hover, move aside, entertain,...
4Old Englishhōfian
5Proto-Germanichufōnąto house, lodge
6Proto-Germanichufąhill, elevated place; house, hall, estate
7Proto-Indo-Europeankeup-to arch, bend, buckle; a hollow
8Proto-Indo-Europeankeu-bend; vault, hole; to shine; light; bright

Words derived from “hovering

Every word from Proto-Indo-European keu-Every word from Proto-Indo-European keup-Every word from Proto-Germanic hufą