Where does “swiftness” come from?
Swiftness derives from Middle English swiftnesse, from Old English swiftnes (swift plus the suffix -nes), from Proto-Germanic swiftaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European swey- or sew-, roots meaning to move or turn.
swiftness (English): The state of being swift
Definitions
- The state of being swift
Ancestry of “swiftness”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | swiftnesse | — |
| 2 | Old English | swiftnes | swiftness, fleetness, celerity |
| 3 | Old English | -nes | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | -nassī | Used to form abstract nouns, usually from... |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | -inassuz | -ness |
| 6 | Proto-West Germanic | -ī | -ness, -th |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | -į̄ | -th |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -íh₂ | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -h₂ | Creates collective nouns, which refer to groups... |