Where does “riding” come from?
Riding derives from Middle English -ing and Old English -ing, -ung, tracing back through Proto-Indo-European reydʰ- and h₃er-.
riding (English): present participle of ride; A path cut through...
Definitions
- present participle of ride; A path cut through...
Ancestry of “riding”, step by step
riding traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English trithing
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | trithing | One of three ancient divisions of a county in... |
| 2 | Middle English | trithing | — |
| 3 | Old English | þriðing | — |
| 4 | Old Norse | þriðjungr | third part |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | þridjô | third |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | tretyós | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | tr̥tyós | third |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | tréyes | three |
via Middle English rydyng
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | rydyng | Riding; travel by horse; Participation in... |
| 2 | Middle English | riden | To ride on a mount; to move on an animal; To use... |
| 3 | Old English | rīdan | to ride |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | rīdan | to ride |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | rīdaną | to ride |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | rēydʰ- | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂er- | to fit, to fix, to put together |