Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “step-” come from?

step- (English) comes from Middle English step-, from Old English stēop-, from Proto-Germanic steupa-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tewp-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- — to push, to hit.

step- (English): A prefix used before "father", "mother",...

Definitions

  1. A prefix used before "father", "mother",...

Ancestry of “step-”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishstep-—
2Old Englishstēop-deprived of a relative, step-
3Proto-Germanicsteupa-step-
4Proto-Indo-European(s)tewp-to push, to stick
5Proto-Indo-European(s)tew-to push, to hit

Words derived from “step-”

  • stepparent
  • stepfamily
  • stepbrother
  • stepsister
  • stepdad
  • stepmom
  • stepdame
  • stepparenting
  • stepsibling
  • stepuncle
  • stepgrandmother
  • stepdaddy
  • stepgrandfather
  • stepniece
  • stepcousin
  • stepparenthood
  • stepgrandson
  • stepmama
  • stepmum
  • stepgrandchild
  • stepma
  • stepgranddaughter
  • stepkid
  • stepmamma
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)tew- →