Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “subgoal” come from?

subgoal (English) comes from English goal, from Middle English gol, from Old English gāl, from Basque gailu, from Proto-Germanic gailō, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰēy- — to yawn, gape; to go.

subgoal (English): A lesser goal that forms part of a greater goal

Definitions

  1. A lesser goal that forms part of a greater goal

Ancestry of “subgoal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgoalA result that one is attempting to achieve; In...
2Middle Englishgolboundary, limit
3Old Englishgālobstacle, barrier, marker; wanton; wicked; bad;...
4Basquegailudevice
5Proto-Germanicgailōa gap; crevice; chasm; ravine
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰēy-to yawn, gape; to go
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰēy- →