Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “semidark” come from?

semidark (English) comes from English dark, from Middle English derk, from Old English deorc, from Proto-West Germanic derk, from Proto-Germanic derkaz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰerg-o-s, from Proto-Indo-European dʰerg-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.

semidark (English): semidarkness; Moderately dark

Definitions

  1. semidarkness; Moderately dark

Ancestry of “semidark”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdarkHaving an absolute or relative lack of light;...
2Middle Englishderkdark
3Old Englishdeorcdark
4Proto-West Germanicderkdirty; dark
5Proto-Germanicderkaz—
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰerg-o-s—
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰerg-to dim, darken; dim, dull; dark, dusky
8Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →