Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “uncrinkle” come from?

uncrinkle (English) comes from English crinkle, from Middle English crenclen, from Old English crinclian, from Old English crincan, from Proto-Germanic kringaną, from Proto-Indo-European ger- — to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...

uncrinkle (English): To unfold from a crinkled state

Definitions

  1. To unfold from a crinkled state

Ancestry of “uncrinkle”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcrinkleTo fold, crease, crumple, or wad; To rustle, as...
2Middle Englishcrenclento bend, buckle
3Old Englishcrinclian—
4Old Englishcrincanto curl; to crinkle
5Proto-Germanickringanąto turn, fall, yield
6Proto-Indo-Europeanger-to turn, bend, twist, wind; to tie, bind...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ger- →