Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “mind” come from?

Mind comes from Middle English munde, from Old English ġemynd, from Proto-Germanic gamundiz, from Proto-Indo-European méntis combined with ḱóm, ultimately from the root men- meaning to think.

mind (English): The ability for rational thought; The ability to...

Definitions

  1. The ability for rational thought; The ability to...

Ancestry of “mind”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishminde—
2Old Englishmyndmind
3Proto-Germanicgamundizremembrance, memory; commemoration, memorial
4Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
7Middle Englishkyt—
8Germankitt—
9Old High Germankuti—
10Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
11Proto-Germanickweduzresin
12Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
13Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “mind”

  • minded
  • mindset
  • mindedness
  • mindedly
  • mastermind
  • simpleminded
  • singleminded
  • broadminded
  • masterminding
  • fairminded
  • weakminded
  • singlemindedness
  • liberalminded
  • broadmindedness
  • mindscape
  • nevermind
  • mindshare
  • singlemindedly
  • toughminded
  • fairmindedness
  • simplemindedness
  • supermind
  • doubleminded
  • mindstream
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →