Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “untangling” come from?

Untangling derives from English tangle, which combines English un- (from Latin unus and Proto-Indo-European óynos meaning "one") with English tangle.

untangling (English): present participle of untangle

Definitions

  1. present participle of untangle

Ancestry of “untangling”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishuntangleTo remove tangles or knots from; To remove...
2Englishtangleto become mixed together or intertwined; to enter...
3Old Norseþangtangle; seaweed
4Old Norseþongull—
5Proto-Germanicþanga—
6Proto-Indo-Europeantenk-to be solid, firm; to be suitable; to succeed,...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tenk- →