Where does “underling” come from?
Underling comes from Old English underling, from Proto-Germanic underling, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning "one positioned beneath," combining n̥dʰér with -lós.
underling (English): A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or...
Definitions
- A subordinate, or person of lesser rank or...
Ancestry of “underling”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | -ling | adverbial suffix denoting direction, state or... |
| 2 | Old English | lang | long; lasting; old, ancient; advanced |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | lang | long |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | langaz | long |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dlongʰos | long |