Where does “scathingness” come from?

scathingness (English) comes from English scathing, from English scathe, from Middle English scathe, from Old English sceaþa, from Proto-Germanic skaþô, from Proto-Indo-European sket- — to injure.

scathingness (English): The quality of being scathing

Definitions

  1. The quality of being scathing

Ancestry of “scathingness”, step by step

scathingness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English scathing

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishscathingpresent participle of scathe; harshly or bitterly...
2EnglishscatheHarm; damage; injury; hurt; misfortune; waste; To...
3Middle EnglishscatheUnfortunate, a pity, a shame
4Old Englishsceaþaone who injures; enemy, ravager; warrior; injury
5Proto-Germanicskaþôdamage, scathe; one who causes damage; injurer
6Proto-Indo-Europeansket-to injure

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sket-Every word from Proto-Germanic skaþôEvery word from Old English sceaþa