Where does “sidewise” come from?

Side comes from Middle English side, Old English sīde, Proto-Germanic sīdǭ, and Proto-Indo-European sētis-, ultimately from the root sek- meaning to cut or divide.

sidewise (English): sideways

Definitions

  1. sideways

Ancestry of “sidewise”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishSideA bounding straight edge of a two-dimensional shape
2Middle Englishsidecustom
3Old Englishsīdeside, flank
4Proto-West Germanic*sīdāside
5Medieval Latinsida
6Late LatinsetaAlternative form of saeta; hair, bristle; bristle
7Latinsaetaa bristle, hair on an animal; silk
8Proto-Italicsaitā
9Proto-Indo-Europeanséh₂ito-
10Proto-Indo-Europeansh₂ey-to bind, fetter
11Proto-Indo-Europeanseh₂-to satiate, satisfy
Every word from Proto-Indo-European seh₂-
sidewise — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer