Where does “startlingness” come from?
startlingness (English) comes from English Ness, from Middle English nesse, from Old English næs, from Proto-Germanic nasją, from Proto-Indo-European néh₂s — nose.
startlingness (English): The quality of being startling
Definitions
- The quality of being startling
Ancestry of “startlingness”, step by step
startlingness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |
via English startling
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | startling | Present participle and gerund of startle; Likely... |
| 2 | English | startle | To move suddenly, or be excited, on feeling... |
| 3 | Middle English | startlen | — |
| 4 | Old English | steartlian | to kick or struggle; to caper; to react with fear |