Where does “speedfreak” come from?
speedfreak (English) comes from English Speed, from Middle English sped, from Old English spēd, from Proto-West Germanic spōdi, from Proto-West Germanic spōan, from Proto-Germanic spōaną, from Proto-Indo-European spéh₁-, from Proto-Indo-European speh₁- — to succeed, to prosper.
speedfreak (English): An addict or habitual user of amphetamines,...
Definitions
- An addict or habitual user of amphetamines,...
Ancestry of “speedfreak”, step by step
speedfreak traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Speed
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Speed | The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion |
| 2 | Middle English | sped | good fortune |
| 3 | Old English | spēd | success; luck, prosperity, success |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | spōdi | hurry, rush; success, prosperity |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | spōan | to succeed, prosper |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | spōaną | to prosper, succeed, be happy |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | spéh₁- | to succeed, to prosper |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | speh₁- | to succeed, to prosper |
via English freak
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | freak | A sudden change of mind; Someone or something... |
| 2 | Middle English | freke | a bold man, warrior, man, creature |
| 3 | Old English | freca | a bold man, warrior, hero |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | frekô | an active or eager man; a bold warrior; wolf |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | frekaz | greedy |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | pereg- | — |