Where does “word break” come from?

word break (English) comes from English Word, from English worth, from Middle English worth, from Old English weorþ, from Proto-Germanic werþaz, from Proto-Indo-European wert-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.

word break (English): A point in writing where a word is split so that...

Definitions

  1. A point in writing where a word is split so that...

Ancestry of “word break”, step by step

word break traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Word

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishWordScripture; The Bible; The creative word of God;...
2EnglishworthHaving a value of; proper to be exchanged for;...
3Middle Englishworthto become
4Old Englishweorþworth, deserving; honoured, esteemed; worth,...
5Proto-Germanicwerþazworthy, valuable
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwert-to turn, to rotate
7Proto-Indo-Europeanwer-to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel

via English break

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbreakTo separate into two or more pieces, to fracture...
2Middle Englishbrekento break
3Old Englishbrecanto break; to break into a place
4Proto-West Germanicbrekanto break
5Proto-Germanicbrekanąto break
6Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰrēǵ-to shine, shimmer
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wer-Every word from Proto-Indo-European wert-Every word from Proto-Germanic werþaz