Where does “ranklessness” come from?
ranklessness (English) comes from English rankless, from English rank, from Middle English rank, from Old English ranc, from Proto-Germanic rankaz, from Proto-Indo-European reǵ- — to bind; straight, direct; straight, right.
ranklessness (English): Absence of rank
Ancestry of “ranklessness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | rankless | Devoid of rank |
| 2 | English | rank | Strong of its kind or in character; unmitigated;... |
| 3 | Middle English | rank | line, row; strong, proud |
| 4 | Old English | ranc | proud, haughty, arrogant, insolent, froward,... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | rankaz | erect, upright |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | reǵ- | to bind; straight, direct; straight, right |