Where does “lead character” come from?
lead character (English) comes from English lead, from Middle English leden, from Old English lēoden, from Old English -en, from Old Norse -inn, from Proto-Norse -īna-, from Proto-Germanic -īnaz, from Proto-Indo-European -iHnos — adjectival suffix.
lead character (English): The main protagonist in a work
Definitions
- The main protagonist in a work
Ancestry of “lead character”, step by step
lead character traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English lead
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lead | A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having... |
| 2 | Middle English | leden | to lead; to carry, take, bring; to put, place,... |
| 3 | Old English | lēoden | national or popular language; national language;... |
| 4 | Old English | -en | mæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;... |
| 5 | Old Norse | -inn | Used to create adjectives from nouns, meaning... |
| 6 | Proto-Norse | -īna- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -īnaz | -en |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -iHnos | Creates adjectives of materials |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -no- | adjectival suffix |
via English character
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | character | A being involved in the action of a story; A... |
| 2 | Middle English | caracter | — |
| 3 | Old French | caractere | mark; sign; indication |
| 4 | Latin | character | branding iron; brand; characteristic, mark,... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | χαρακτήρ | instrument used for engraving; person who... |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | χαράσσω | to sharpen; to engrave, carve, write, draw, stamp |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵʰer- | to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines |