Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “mindlessly” come from?

Mindlessly derives from English mindless, formed with the Old English adverbial suffix -līċ (from Proto-Germanic -līkaz, meaning "having the form or nature of"), ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European ḱóm.

mindlessly (English): In a mindless manner

Definitions

  1. In a mindless manner

Ancestry of “mindlessly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmindlessShowing a lack of forethought or sense; Having no...
2Middle Englishmyndles—
3Old Englishmyndlēas—
4Old Englishmyndmind
5Proto-Germanicgamundizremembrance, memory; commemoration, memorial
6Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
7Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
9Middle Englishkyt—
10Germankitt—
11Old High Germankuti—
12Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
13Proto-Germanickweduzresin
14Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
15Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →