Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “must-read” come from?

must-read (English) comes from English read, from Middle English reden, from Old English rǣdan, from Proto-West Germanic rādan, from Proto-Germanic rēdaną, from Proto-Indo-European Hreh₁dʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂reh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- — to fit, to fix, to put together.

must-read (English): A book, article, etc. that one is strongly...

Definitions

  1. A book, article, etc. that one is strongly...

Ancestry of “must-read”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishreadTo look at and interpret letters or other...
2Middle Englishredento counsel, advise; to study; to read
3Old Englishrǣdanto read, interpret; to counsel, advise; plot,...
4Proto-West Germanicrādanto advise, counsel, help; to devise, decide,...
5Proto-Germanicrēdanąto decide, advise
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanHreh₁dʰ-to think; to arrange; to succeed, accomplish
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂reh₁-to think, reason; to arrange
8Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂er-to fit, to fix, to put together
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- →