Where does “unthrall” come from?

unthrall (English) comes from English thrall, from Middle English thral, from Old English þrǣl, from Old Norse þræll, from Proto-Germanic þragilaz, from Proto-Indo-European trāgʰ- — pull, drag, race, run; to pull, drag, race, run.

unthrall (English): To free from slavery

Definitions

  1. To free from slavery

Ancestry of “unthrall”, step by step

unthrall traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English thrall

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishthrallOne who is enslaved or under mind control; The...
2Middle EnglishthralA slave or serf; one in bondage or slavery
3Old Englishþrǣlthrall, slave, servant
4Old Norseþrællslave
5Proto-Germanicþragilazrunner; gofer; servant
6Proto-Indo-Europeantrāgʰ-pull, drag, race, run; to pull, drag, race, run

via English un

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishunOne
Every word from Proto-Indo-European trāgʰ-Every word from Proto-Germanic þragilazEvery word from Old Norse þræll