Where does “pre-teen” come from?

pre-teen (English) comes from English pre, from Latin prae, from Proto-Italic prai, from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

pre-teen (English): Alternative form of preteen

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of preteen

Ancestry of “pre-teen”, step by step

pre-teen traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English pre

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpreBefore; Precum, Cowper's fluid, pre-ejaculate; To...
2Latinpraebefore; in front; in front of
3Proto-Italicpraibefore; in front of
4Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

via English teen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishteenA teenager; Of or having to do with teenagers;...
2Middle Englishtenen
3Old Englishtȳnanto slander, vex
4Proto-West Germanic*tūnijanto enclose, put a fence around

Words derived from “pre-teen

Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tósEvery word from Proto-Indo-European per-Every word from Proto-Indo-European preh₂-