Where does “no-brainer” come from?
no-brainer (English) comes from English Nō, from Middle English no, from Old English nā, from Old English ne, from Old English ealles, from Old English -es, from Proto-Germanic -as, from Proto-Indo-European -ēs — Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;...
no-brainer (English): An easy or obvious conclusion, decision, solution; something requiring little or no thought
Definitions
- An easy or obvious conclusion, decision, solution; something requiring little or no thought
Ancestry of “no-brainer”, step by step
no-brainer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Nō
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Nō | — |
| 2 | Middle English | no | no |
| 3 | Old English | nā | no |
| 4 | Old English | ne | not; or, and not; "ne... ne..." is used to mean "... |
| 5 | Old English | ealles | completely, wholly, entirely; totally,... |
| 6 | Old English | -es | possessive marker, indicating that an object... |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -as | used in formation of adverbs |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -ēs | Primarily forms adjectival bahuvrīhi compounds |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -ess | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -os | Creates action nouns or result nouns from verbs;... |
via English brain
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | brain | The control center of the central nervous system... |
| 2 | Middle English | brayn | The brain or cerebrum; the organ of thought;... |
| 3 | Old English | bræġn | brain |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *bragn | brain |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bragną | brain |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mregʰnom | skull, brain |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |