Where does “sourness” come from?
Sourness comes from Middle English sowrenesse, derived from Old English sūrnes, a noun formed from the adjective meaning sour or acidic.
sourness (English): The quality or condition of being sour, usually...
Definitions
- The quality or condition of being sour, usually...
Ancestry of “sourness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | sowrenesse | — |
| 2 | Old English | sūrnes | sourness |
| 3 | Old English | -nes | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | -nassī | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -inassuz | -ness |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | -ī | -ness, -th |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -į̄ | -th |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -íh₂ | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -h₂ | Creates collective nouns, which refer to groups... |