Where does “recklessness” come from?
Recklessness is derived from Middle English reklesnes, from Old English rēcelēasnes, a formation based on the adjective meaning "careless" or "heedless."
recklessness (English): The state or quality of being reckless or...
Definitions
- The state or quality of being reckless or...
Ancestry of “recklessness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | reklesnes | — |
| 2 | Old English | rēcelēasnes | recklessness, carelessness, negligence |
| 3 | Old English | -nes | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | -nassī | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -inassuz | -ness |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | -ī | -ness, -th |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -į̄ | -th |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -íh₂ | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -h₂ | Creates collective nouns, which refer to groups... |