Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “unshiftable” come from?

unshiftable (English) comes from English shiftable, from English Shift, from Middle English schiften, from Old English sċiftan, from Proto-Germanic skiftijaną, from Proto-Germanic skipatjaną, from Proto-Indo-European skēyb-, from Proto-Indo-European sḱēy- — to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...

unshiftable (English): Impossible to shift; immovable

Definitions

  1. Impossible to shift; immovable

Ancestry of “unshiftable”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishshiftableThat can be shifted
2EnglishShiftA modifier key whose main function is shifting...
3Middle EnglishschiftenTo split, cut up, sunder; To share out,...
4Old Englishsċiftanto divide, separate into shares; appoint, ordain;...
5Proto-GermanicskiftijanąTo put in order; organise; arrange
6Proto-Germanicskipatjanąto organise, put in order
7Proto-Indo-Europeanskēyb-—
8Proto-Indo-Europeansḱēy-to shine; to shimmer; shadow; luster, gloss,...
9Proto-Germanicskaidąseparation, distinction
10Proto-Indo-EuropeanskÁit-to cut, part, spearate, divide; to cut, part,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European skÁit- →