Where does “varnishable” come from?
varnishable (English) comes from English varnish, from Middle English vernisch, from Old French vernis, from Medieval Latin vernix, from Latin veronix, from Byzantine Greek βερονίκη, from Ancient Greek βερονίκιον, from Ancient Greek Βερενίκη — shiny, light brown.
varnishable (English): Capable of being varnished
Definitions
- Capable of being varnished
Ancestry of “varnishable”, step by step
varnishable traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English varnish
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | varnish | A type of paint with a solvent that evaporates to... |
| 2 | Middle English | vernisch | — |
| 3 | Old French | vernis | — |
| 4 | Medieval Latin | vernix | varnish; resin |
| 5 | Latin | veronix | — |
| 6 | Byzantine Greek | βερονίκη | resin amber |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | βερονίκιον | soda |
| 8 | Ancient Greek | Βερενίκη | a city in Lybia; bringer of victory |
| 9 | Ancient Macedonian | Βερενῑ́κη | — |
| 10 | Ancient Greek | φέρω | I bring, bear, carry |
| 11 | Proto-Hellenic | pʰérō | to bear |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |
via English able
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | able | Easy to use; Suitable; competent; Liable to |
| 2 | Middle English | able | capable, expert, qualified, skilful, competent |
| 3 | Old French | able | able; capable |
| 4 | Latin | habilis | able to have/possess/maintain; having sufficient... |
| 5 | Latin | -ilis | -ile |
| 6 | Proto-Italic | -elis | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | -elis | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |