Where does “worseness” come from?
worseness (English) comes from English worse, from Middle English worse, from Old English wiersa, from Proto-Germanic wirsizô, from Proto-Indo-European wers-, from Proto-Indo-European wer- — to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel.
worseness (English): The state or condition of being worse;...
Definitions
- The state or condition of being worse;...
Ancestry of “worseness”, step by step
worseness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English worse
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | worse | comparative form of bad: more bad; comparative... |
| 2 | Middle English | worse | Something or someone which is more yvel or ille (i.e. worse) |
| 3 | Old English | wiersa | comparative degree of yfel: worse |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | wirsizô | comparative degree of *ubilaz; worse |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | wers- | to wipe; peak, height |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wer- | to burn; to cover, heed, notice; squirrel |
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 |