Where does “screensavery” come from?

screensavery (English) comes from English screensaver, from English saver, from English save, from Middle English saven, from Old French sauver, from Gallo-Romance salvar, from Latin salvō, from Latin salvus — mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy.

screensavery (English): Resembling a screensaver

Definitions

  1. Resembling a screensaver

Ancestry of “screensavery”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishscreensaverA computer program that displays aesthetic...
2EnglishsaverOne who saves; One who keeps savings more than...
3EnglishsaveIn various sports, a block that prevents an...
4Middle EnglishsavenTo save prevent from harm or difficulty
5Old Frenchsauverto save
6Gallo-Romancesalvar
7Latinsalvōto save (make safe or healthy)
8Latinsalvussafe, saved, preserved, sound, unharmed,...
9Proto-Italic*salawoswhole
10Proto-Indo-Europeansolh₂wós
11Proto-Indo-Europeansōlh₂-mercy, comfort; comfort, mercy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sōlh₂-