Where does “straightforwardness” come from?
Straightforwardness is an English formation combining straight, forward, and the Old English suffix -nes, ultimately deriving from Proto-Indo-European per- meaning to go or traverse.
straightforwardness (English): The state or quality of being straightforward
Definitions
- The state or quality of being straightforward
Ancestry of “straightforwardness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | straightforward | Proceeding in a straight course or manner; not... |
| 2 | English | forward | Toward the front or at the front; Without... |
| 3 | Middle English | foreward | forward; agreement, contract, treaty, bargain,... |
| 4 | Old English | foreweard | forward, fore, former, early, prior; an... |
| 5 | Old English | weard | guard; guard, the action of looking out for... |
| 6 | Old English | ōra | ore, unwrought metal |
| 7 | Old English | ēar | sea, ocean; grave, earth |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | ahaz | ear |
| 9 | Proto-Finnic | ahtas | narrow, cramped |
| 10 | Proto-Baltic | anśtas | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énǵʰus | narrow, tight |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂enǵʰ- | to constrict, tighten, compress; narrow, tight;... |