Where does “motherhouse” come from?

motherhouse (English) comes from English mother, from Middle English modren, from Middle English -en, from Old English -en, from Old Norse -inn, from Proto-Norse -īna-, from Proto-Germanic -īnaz, from Proto-Indo-European -iHnos — adjectival suffix.

motherhouse (English): The monastery from which the other 'houses' of a...

Definitions

  1. The monastery from which the other 'houses' of a...

Ancestry of “motherhouse”, step by step

motherhouse traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English mother

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishmotherA female who has given birth to a baby; A human...
2Middle Englishmodrenplural of moder
3Middle English-enDenotes the past participle form when attached to...
4Old English-enmæġþ + API → mæġden; cocc + API → cycen, cicen;...
5Old Norse-innUsed to create adjectives from nouns, meaning...
6Proto-Norse-īna-
7Proto-Germanic-īnaz-en
8Proto-Indo-European-iHnosCreates adjectives of materials
9Proto-Indo-European-no-adjectival suffix

via English House

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishHouseA particular chamber of political representation
2Middle Englishhoushouse, residence; house of worship, temple;...
3Old Englishhūsdwelling, shelter, house; house
4Proto-West Germanichūshouse
5Proto-Germanichūsąhouse
6Proto-Indo-European(s)kewH-to cover, bedeck; cover
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -no-Every word from Middle English -enEvery word from Proto-Germanic -īnaz