Where does “upright” come from?
Upright comes from Old English upriht, from Proto-Germanic upprehtaz, literally meaning "up" plus "straight" or "erect."
upright (English): Vertical; erect; Greater in height than breadth;...
Definitions
- Vertical; erect; Greater in height than breadth;...
Ancestry of “upright”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | upright | — |
| 2 | Old English | upriht | upright, erect |
| 3 | Old English | riht | straight; right, true, correct; rightful,... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | reht | straight; right, correct; morally upright, just |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | rehtaz | right, straight; morally upright, just |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵtós | straightened, right, upright |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |