Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “rearwardness” come from?

rearwardness (English) comes from English rearward, from English -ward, from Old English -weard, from Proto-Germanic wardaz, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

rearwardness (English): Quality of being rearward

Definitions

  1. Quality of being rearward

Ancestry of “rearwardness”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishrearwardThe part that comes last or is situated in the...
2English-wardForming adverbs denoting course or direction to,...
3Old English-weardForming adjectives and nouns from adjectives or...
4Proto-Germanicwardazturned; turned toward; facing; Alternative form...
5Proto-Germanicwerþazworthy, valuable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →