Where does “pusillanimousness” come from?
pusillanimousness (English) comes from English pusillanimous, from Middle French pusillanimité, from Latin pusillanimis, from Latin animus, from Proto-Italic anamos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁mos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂enh₁- — to breathe.
pusillanimousness (English): pusillanimity
Definitions
- pusillanimity
Ancestry of “pusillanimousness”, step by step
pusillanimousness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English pusillanimous
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | pusillanimous | Showing ignoble cowardice, or contemptible... |
| 2 | Middle French | pusillanimité | — |
| 3 | Latin | pusillanimis | faint-hearted, timid, pusillanimous |
| 4 | Latin | animus | That life-giving aspect which animates: life... |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | anamos | breath; spirit, soul, life force |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁mos | breath |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enh₁- | to breathe |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |