Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “regardless” come from?

Regardless comes from Middle English -les suffix added to Old French reguarder, from Old French re- and Latin re- meaning "again," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European wer-.

regardless (English): Having no regard; heedless; careless; Without...

Definitions

  1. Having no regard; heedless; careless; Without...

Ancestry of “regardless”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishregardA steady look, a gaze; One's concern for another;...
2Frenchregarderto look at; to watch
3Middle Frenchregarderto look at; to watch
4Old Frenchreguarderto look at; to watch
5Old Frenchguarderto protect; to guard; to look at
6Frankishwardēnto protect; to guard, protect, watch over; to...
7Proto-Germanicwardānąto guard, protect, watch over
8Proto-Germanic*warduz—
9Proto-Indo-Europeanwēr-true
10Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

Words derived from “regardless”

  • regardlessly
  • regardlessness
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer- →