Where does “unbeknownst” come from?
Unbeknownst derives from English unbeknown, which combines the prefix un- with English beknown, itself from English known, the past participle of English know, tracing back through Proto-Indo-European óynos and ano- to Proto-Indo-European ne.
unbeknownst (English): without the knowledge of
Definitions
- without the knowledge of
Ancestry of “unbeknownst”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | unbeknown | Not beknown |
| 2 | English | beknown | known; past participle of beknow |
| 3 | English | be- | By, near, next to, around, close to; Around;... |
| 4 | Middle English | bi- | A prefix forming transitive verbs from any content word, often denoting completion or thoroughness |
| 5 | Old English | bī- | by, near, around; by- |
| 6 | Old English | bī | lullaby!; near, by; by, near, around |
| 7 | Proto-West Germanic | bī | by, at; near, around |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | bi | by, at; near, around |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂m̥bʰi | around, on either side of, about; in exchange... |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂n̥tbʰi | — |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |