Where does “whyness” come from?
whyness (English) comes from English why, from Middle English why, from Old English hwȳ, from Proto-Germanic hwī, from Proto-Indo-European kʷey, from Proto-Indo-European kʷis — interrogative, relative stem; who, what;...
whyness (English): The reason why; the cause or intent
Definitions
- The reason why; the cause or intent
Ancestry of “whyness”, step by step
whyness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English why
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | why | For what cause, reason, or purpose; For which... |
| 2 | Middle English | why | — |
| 3 | Old English | hwȳ | why |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | hwī | how, with what, by what means; instrumental of... |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷey | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kʷis | interrogative, relative stem; who, what;... |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |