Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “wreckful” come from?

wreckful (English) comes from English wreck, from Middle English wrek, from Anglo-Norman wrek, from Old Norse wrek, from Proto-Germanic wrekaną, from Proto-Indo-European wreǵ- — to work, act.

wreckful (English): Causing wreckage; ruinous

Definitions

  1. Causing wreckage; ruinous

Ancestry of “wreckful”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishwreckSomething or someone that has been ruined; The...
2Middle Englishwrek—
3Anglo-Normanwrekshipwreck
4Old Norsewrek—
5Proto-Germanicwrekanąto pursue, to drive out
6Proto-Indo-Europeanwreǵ-to work, act
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wreǵ- →