Where does “midair” come from?
Midair derives from air, which comes from Middle English air, Anglo-Norman eir, Latin āēr meaning air or atmosphere, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰeh₁ro-.
midair (English): In the act of flight; airborne; a collision...
Definitions
- In the act of flight; airborne; a collision...
Ancestry of “midair”, step by step
midair traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English MID
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | MID | Initialism of mobile information device |
| 2 | English | mid-range | Of a central or halfway point |
| 3 | English | range | A line or series of mountains, buildings, etc; A... |
| 4 | Middle English | rengen | — |
| 5 | Old French | rengier | to line up; to form ranks |
| 6 | Old French | reng | place; position |
| 7 | Latin | rencus | row; order, rank |
| 8 | Gaulish | rekos | — |
| 9 | Proto-Celtic | reketi | to arrange |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | (H)rek- | to set in order |