Where does “numb” come from?

numb (English) comes from English nim, from Middle English nimen, from Old English niman, from Proto-West Germanic neman, from Proto-Germanic nemaną, from Proto-Indo-European nem- — to distribute; to give, to take.

numb (English): Physically unable to feel, not having the power...

Definitions

  1. Physically unable to feel, not having the power...

Ancestry of “numb”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishnimTo take or seize; To filch, steal; To walk with...
2Middle Englishnimento take
3Old Englishnimanto take, seize
4Proto-West Germanicnemanto take
5Proto-Germanicnemanąto take
6Proto-Indo-Europeannem-to distribute; to give, to take

Words derived from “numb”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European nem- →Every word from Proto-Germanic nemaną →Every word from Proto-West Germanic neman →