Where does “sniffly” come from?
sniffly (English) comes from English sniffle, from English -le, from Middle English -el, from Old French -el, from Latin -ellus, from Latin -ulus, from Proto-Italic -olos, from Proto-Italic -elos — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.
sniffly (English): Inclined to sniffle; Resembling a sniffle
Definitions
- Inclined to sniffle; Resembling a sniffle
Ancestry of “sniffly”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | sniffle | To make a whimpering or sniffing sound when... |
| 2 | English | -le | A frequentative suffix of verbs, indicating... |
| 3 | Middle English | -el | — |
| 4 | Old French | -el | Suffix that usually denotes a masculine noun |
| 5 | Latin | -ellus | Alternative form of -ulus; "forming masculine... |
| 6 | Latin | -ulus | Used to form a diminutive of a noun, indicating... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -olos | — |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | -elos | Forms desubstantival and deadjectival diminutive nouns |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -e-lós | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |