Where does “sullen” come from?
Sullen derives from Middle English solein, from Anglo-Norman soleyn, from Old French sole meaning alone, from Latin solus meaning alone, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European swol- and swé.
sullen (English): Having a brooding ill temper; sulky; Gloomy;...
Definitions
- Having a brooding ill temper; sulky; Gloomy;...
Ancestry of “sullen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | soleyn | alone, solitary of one person; in solitude |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | soleyn | alone; solitary; alone; sole; only |
| 3 | Old French | sole | oblique/nominative feminine singular of sol |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | sola | nominative plural of solum; accusative plural of... |
| 5 | Latin | solea | sandal; sole of a shoe |
| 6 | Latin | sōlum | bottom, ground, base, foundation, bed |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | swol- | sole; sole of the foot |