Where does “malelessness” come from?
malelessness (English) comes from English maleless, from English Malé, from Middle English mele, from Old English melu, from Proto-West Germanic melu, from Proto-Germanic melwą, from Proto-Indo-European melh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European mel- — to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange.
malelessness (English): Absence of males
Definitions
- Absence of males
Ancestry of “malelessness”, step by step
malelessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English maleless
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | maleless | Devoid of males |
| 2 | English | Malé | — |
| 3 | Middle English | mele | Flour, especially that of wheat; The meal of... |
| 4 | Old English | melu | flour; meal, the edible part of a grain or pulse |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | melu | ground corn, meal, flour |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | melwą | ground corn, meal, flour |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |