Where does “smattering” come from?
Smattering derives from the Middle English -ing suffix attached to smatter, itself from Old English -ung via Proto-Germanic -ungō, a productive suffix forming nouns from verbs.
smattering (English): A superficial or shallow knowledge of a subject;...
Definitions
- A superficial or shallow knowledge of a subject;...
Ancestry of “smattering”, step by step
smattering traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English smatter
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | smatter | To talk superficially; to babble, chatter; To... |
| 2 | Middle English | smateren | — |
via Middle English smateringe
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | smateringe | — |