Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “softheartedly” come from?

softheartedly (English) comes from English softhearted, from English hearted, from Middle English herted, from Middle English herte, from Old English heorte, from Proto-West Germanic hertā, from Proto-Germanic hertô, from Proto-Indo-European ḱḗr — heart.

softheartedly (English): In a softhearted manner; with sentimental...

Definitions

  1. In a softhearted manner; with sentimental...

Ancestry of “softheartedly”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsoftheartedGentle; kind; sympathetic; Easily moved to sorrow...
2Englishheartedsimple past tense and past participle of heart;...
3Middle EnglishhertedHaving a specified disposition, emotion, or...
4Middle EnglishherteThe heart; One's inner self; the mind or...
5Old Englishheorteheart
6Proto-West Germanichertāheart
7Proto-Germanichertôheart
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱḗrheart
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱḗr →