Where does “the dear knows” come from?

the dear knows (English) comes from English dear, from Old English dēor, from Proto-West Germanic deuʀ, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.

the dear knows (English): God knows; nobody knows

Definitions

  1. God knows; nobody knows

Ancestry of “the dear knows”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdearHigh in price; expensive; Loved; lovable; Lovely;...
2Old Englishdēoranimal, beast
3Proto-West Germanicdeuʀanimal, beast
4Proto-Germanicdeuząanimal, beast
5Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewsómliving thing
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰéwsbreath
7Proto-Indo-Europeandʰwes-to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes-Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰéwsEvery word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm