Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “stinging” come from?

Stinging comes from Middle English styngyng, formed from the Middle English verb sting plus the suffix -ing, which derives from Old English -ing and -ung, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ste(n)gʰ-.

stinging (English): Having the capacity to sting; Precise and...

Definitions

  1. Having the capacity to sting; Precise and...

Ancestry of “stinging”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle EnglishstyngyngA stinging; the process where an insect uses its...
2Middle English-ingForms gerunds from verbs, typically referring to...
3Old English-ingForming nouns from verbs, indicating action,...
4Old English-tūn—
5Old Englishtūnenclosure, yard; place; dwelling
6Proto-West Germanictūnfence
7Proto-Germanictūnąfence; enclosure
8Gaulishdunumfort; hill, hillfort
9Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
10Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

Words derived from “stinging”

  • stingingly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →