Where does “stepfriend” come from?
stepfriend (English) comes from English step, from English stepchild, from Middle English stepchild, from Old English stēopċild, from Old English ċild, from Proto-Germanic kelþaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵelt-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.
stepfriend (English): A friend whose association is conferred through...
Definitions
- A friend whose association is conferred through...
Ancestry of “stepfriend”, step by step
stepfriend traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | step | An advance or movement made from one foot to the... |
| 2 | English | stepchild | The child of one's spouse but not one's own; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | stepchild | stepchild child of a spouse |
| 4 | Old English | stēopċild | stepchild |
| 5 | Old English | ċild | child, youth; fetus; female baby; child |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | kelþaz | fetus; newborn; infant; child |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵelt- | womb |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |
via English Friend
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Friend | A Quaker; a member of the Society of Friends;... |
| 2 | Middle English | frend | A friend or compatriot; a close associate; A... |
| 3 | Old English | frēond | friend, friendly; friend, relative, lover |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | frijōndz | friend, loved one |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | prēy- | to like, love; like, love |