Where does “lightening” come from?
Lightening derives from English light with the Middle English suffix -en, from Proto-Germanic liuhtijaną meaning "to make bright," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European lewktom meaning "light" or "bright."
lightening (English): present participle of lighten; The sensation...
Definitions
- present participle of lighten; The sensation...
Ancestry of “lightening”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | lighten | To make brighter or clearer; to illuminate; To... |
| 2 | English | -en | Denotes the past participle form when attached to... |
| 3 | Middle English | -en | Denotes the past participle form when attached to... |
| 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 |