Where does “meaning” come from?
Meaning derives from Middle English -ing, Old English -ing, Latin medianus, Latin medius, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European ḱóm, which expressed the sense of being in the middle or midst.
meaning (English): The denotation, referent, or idea connected with...
Definitions
- The denotation, referent, or idea connected with...
Ancestry of “meaning”, step by step
meaning traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English mean
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | mean | To intend |
| 2 | Middle English | menen | to intend, to mean to indicate or signify; to... |
| 3 | Old French | mener | to lead |
| 4 | Latin | minō | to drive or goad (animals) |
| 5 | Latin | mina | A Greek weight equal to 100 drachmas; A Greek... |
| 6 | Gaulish | mēnā | ore, mine |
| 7 | Proto-Celtic | *meinis | ore, metal |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | mēy(H)nis | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)mēy(H)- | to cut, hew |
via Middle English mening
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | mening | — |