Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “nonclean” come from?

nonclean (English) comes from English clean, from Middle English clene, from Old English clǣne, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.

nonclean (English): Not clean

Definitions

  1. Not clean

Ancestry of “nonclean”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishclean"Free of dirt or impurities or protruberances.";...
2Middle Englishcleneclean
3Old Englishclǣnepure, clear; clean, pure
4Proto-Germanicklainizshining, fine, splendid; tender, precious
5Proto-Indo-Europeang(e)lēi-gleaming
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵel-to swallow; swallow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- →