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
- Causing wreckage; ruinous
Ancestry of “wreckful”, step by step
wreckful traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English wreck
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | wreck | Something or someone that has been ruined; The... |
| 2 | Middle English | wrek | wreck |
| 3 | Anglo-Norman | wrek | shipwreck |
| 4 | Old Norse | wrek | — |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | wrekaną | to pursue, to drive out |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | wreǵ- | to work, act |
via English ful
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | ful | — |