Where does “shiftiness” come from?
shiftiness (English) comes from English shifty, from English Shift, from Middle English schiften, from Old English sċiftan, from Proto-Germanic skiftijaną, from Proto-Germanic skipatjaną, from Proto-Indo-European skēyb-, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy- — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
shiftiness (English): The property of being shifty; The result or...
Definitions
- The property of being shifty; The result or...
Ancestry of “shiftiness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | shifty | Subject to frequent changes in direction; Moving... |
| 2 | English | Shift | A modifier key whose main function is shifting... |
| 3 | Middle English | schiften | To split, cut up, sunder; To share out,... |
| 4 | Old English | sċiftan | to divide, separate into shares; appoint, ordain;... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | skiftijaną | To put in order; organise; arrange |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | skipatjaną | to organise, put in order |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | skēyb- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | sḱēy- | to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,... |
| 9 | Proto-Germanic | skaidą | separation, distinction |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | skÁit- | to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,... |