Where does “mild” come from?
Mild comes from Middle English milde, from Old English milde, from Proto-Germanic mildijaz, from Proto-Indo-European meldʰ-, mel-, and mey-.
mild (English): Gentle and not easily angered; Of only moderate...
Definitions
- Gentle and not easily angered; Of only moderate...
Ancestry of “mild”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | milde | Alternative form of mile |
| 2 | Old English | milde | mild, gentle, kind, merciful, generous; meek |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | mildijaz | mild, soft, tender |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | melh₂- | to grind, to crush |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | mel- | soft; tender; weak; to deceive; to rub |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mey- | to strengthen; to bind; to change, exchange |