Where does “neatness” come from?
Neatness derives from Middle English -nesse and Old English -nes, both suffix forms ultimately from Proto-Indo-European newd- meaning bright or shining, via Latin nitidus.
neatness (English): The state of being neat
Definitions
- The state of being neat
Ancestry of “neatness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | neat | Clean, tidy; free from dirt or impurities; Free... |
| 2 | Middle English | nete | — |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | neit | good, desireable, clean |
| 4 | Old French | net | neat, decent |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | nittus | — |
| 6 | Latin | nitidus | shining, polished, glittering; handsome,... |
| 7 | Latin | nitere | second-person singular future active indicative... |
| 8 | Latin | niteo | I am radiant, shine, look bright, glitter,... |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | ney- | to shine; to be aroused, shine; to be excited |
| 10 | Cebuano | -hi | — |