Where does “screensaver” come from?

screensaver (English) comes from English saver, from English -er, from Middle English -er, from Old French -er, from Latin -āre, from Proto-Italic -āō, from Proto-Indo-European -eh₂yéti, from Proto-Indo-European -yéti — he, she.

screensaver (English): A computer program that displays aesthetic...

Definitions

  1. A computer program that displays aesthetic...

Ancestry of “screensaver”, step by step

screensaver traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English saver

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsaverOne who saves; One who keeps savings more than...
2English-erA person or thing that does an action indicated...
3Middle English-eragentive suffix; agent noun suffix
4Old French-erAlternative form of -ier, verbal suffix;...
5Latin-ārefirst conjugation
6Proto-Italic-āōForms primarily denominative verbs
7Proto-Indo-European-eh₂yétiCreates iterative/ frequentative/ intensive...
8Proto-Indo-European-yétiCreates intransitive, often deponent,...
9Proto-Indo-Europeanyé-
10Chichewaiyehe, she

via English screen

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscreenA physical divider intended to block an area from...
2Middle Englishscren
3Anglo-Normanescrenfirescreen, the tester of a bed; Alternative form...
4Old FrenchescrenAlternative form of escran
5Middle Dutchschermprotective screen; protection, cover
6Old Dutchskirmprotection
7Proto-West Germanicskirmifur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
8Proto-Germanicskirmizfur, hide, pelt; covering, shelter, screen
9Proto-Indo-Europeansḱer-to caw, crow

Words derived from “screensaver

Every word from Chichewa iyeEvery word from English -erEvery word from Proto-Indo-European -yéti