Where does “scorn” come from?

Scorn comes from Middle English schornen, from Old French escharnir, from Vulgar Latin escarnire, from Proto-Germanic skarnjan and skeraną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European (s)ker- and sek-, roots meaning to cut or separate.

scorn (English): To feel or display contempt or disdain for...

Definitions

  1. To feel or display contempt or disdain for...

Ancestry of “scorn”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishscarndung
2Old Frenchescarn—
3Vulgar Latinescarnire—
4Proto-Germanicskarnjan—
5Proto-Germanicskeranąto shear
6Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “scorn”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European sḱer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic skeraną →Every word from Proto-Germanic skarnjan →