Where does “sterlingness” come from?

sterlingness (English) comes from English sterling, from Middle English sterling, from Old English starlinc, from Old English -ling, from Old English lang, from Proto-West Germanic lang, from Proto-Germanic langaz, from Proto-Indo-European dlongʰos — long.

sterlingness (English): The quality of being sterling

Definitions

  1. The quality of being sterling

Ancestry of “sterlingness”, step by step

sterlingness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English sterling

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsterlingThe currency of the United Kingdom; especially...
2Middle Englishsterlingstarling
3Old Englishstarlinc
4Old English-lingadverbial suffix denoting direction, state or...
5Old Englishlanglong; lasting; old, ancient; advanced
6Proto-West Germaniclanglong
7Proto-Germaniclangazlong
8Proto-Indo-Europeandlongʰoslong

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn 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
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dlongʰosEvery word from Proto-Germanic langazEvery word from Proto-West Germanic lang
sterlingness — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer