Where does “rotten” come from?
Rotten comes from Middle English roten, derived from the past participle of Latin ruptus meaning broken, ultimately tracing to Proto-Indo-European wréh₂ds.
rotten (English): Of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and...
Definitions
- Of perishable items, overridden with bacteria and...
Ancestry of “rotten”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | roten | To decompose; to make or become rotten or spoiled |
| 2 | Middle English | rote | The root; The foundation or base of a... |
| 3 | Old French | rote | route, path |
| 4 | Latin | rupta | nominative feminine singular of ruptus;... |
| 5 | Latin | ruptus | broken; ruptured, burst |
| 6 | Latin | rumpō | to break, burst, tear, rend, rupture; break asunder, force open |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | Hrunépti | to be breaking |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | Hrewp- | to break, tear |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | Hrew- | to tear out, dig out, open, acquire |