Where does “straightforward” come from?
Straightforward combines English straight with forward, which derives from Middle English foreward, Old English foreward, and the Old English prefix fore- meaning "before," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per- meaning "forward" or "through."
straightforward (English): Proceeding in a straight course or manner; not...
Definitions
- Proceeding in a straight course or manner; not...
Ancestry of “straightforward”, step by step
straightforward traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English forward
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | forward | Toward the front or at the front; Without... |
| 2 | Middle English | foreward | forward; agreement, contract, treaty, bargain,... |
| 3 | Old English | foreweard | forward, fore, former, early, prior; an... |
| 4 | Old English | weard | guard; guard, the action of looking out for... |
| 5 | Old English | ōra | ore, unwrought metal |
| 6 | Old English | ēar | sea, ocean; grave, earth |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | ahaz | ear |
| 8 | Proto-Finnic | ahtas | narrow, cramped |
| 9 | Proto-Baltic | anśtas | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énǵʰus | narrow, tight |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enǵʰ- | to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;... |
via English straight
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | straight | Not crooked or bent; having a constant direction... |
| 2 | Middle English | streight | straight; direct |
| 3 | Middle English | strecchen | To stretch out, spread, extend; To stretch,... |
| 4 | Old English | streċċan | to stretch, hold out, extend, spread out,... |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | strakkjan | to stretch, to make straight |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | (s)treg- | rigid, stiff; to be stiff, rigid, strong |