Where does “tidy” come from?

Tidy comes from Middle English tidy, of uncertain origin and meaning.

tidy (English): Arranged neatly and in order; Not messy; neat and...

Definitions

  1. Arranged neatly and in order; Not messy; neat and...

Ancestry of “tidy”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishtidy
2EnglishtideThe periodic change of the sea level,...
3Middle EnglishtydeA time (period), season
4Old Englishtīdtime, period, season; period, season, time;...
5Proto-Germanictīdiztime; period, interval
6Proto-Indo-Europeandéh₂itisinterval, period of time
7Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂y-to share, divide
8Proto-Indo-Europeandeh₂-to share, divide

Words derived from “tidy

Every word from Proto-Indo-European deh₂-