Where does “riv'n” come from?
riv'n (English) comes from English riven, from Middle English riven, from Old Norse rífa, from Proto-Germanic rīfaną, from Proto-Indo-European rēy- — thing; possession; to regulate, count; to count,...
riv'n (English): riven
Ancestry of “riv'n”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | riven | past participle of rive; Torn apart; Broken into... |
| 2 | Middle English | riven | to rive |
| 3 | Old Norse | rífa | to tear apart; to tear, break; to pick, scratch,... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | rīfaną | to tear, rend |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | rēy- | thing; possession; to regulate, count; to count,... |