Where does “steadfastness” come from?
Steadfastness comes from Middle English stedfastnesse, from Old English stedefæstnes, a compound of Old English -fæst and the suffix -nes, ultimately deriving from Proto-Germanic stadiz and Proto-Indo-European steh₂- meaning to stand.
steadfastness (English): Loyalty in the face of trouble and difficulty;...
Definitions
- Loyalty in the face of trouble and difficulty;...
Ancestry of “steadfastness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | stedfastnesse | firmness of purpose; fortitude; loyalty,... |
| 2 | Old English | stedefæstnes | steadfastness, consistency |
| 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... |