Where does “unlisten” come from?
unlisten (English) comes from English listen, from Middle English listenen, from Old English hlysnan, from Proto-Germanic hlusnijaną, from Proto-Germanic hlusēną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.
unlisten (English): To cease to listen for incoming signals
Definitions
- To cease to listen for incoming signals
Ancestry of “unlisten”, step by step
unlisten traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English listen
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | listen | To pay attention to a sound or speech; To expect... |
| 2 | Middle English | listenen | — |
| 3 | Old English | hlysnan | to listen |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hlusnijaną | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | hlusēną | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱlew- | to hear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | ḱel- | to cover; to incline |
via English un
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | un | One |