Etymology Explorer › French

Where does “égayer” come from?

égayer (French) comes from French gai, from Old French gai, from Old Occitan gai, from Proto-Germanic ganhuz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- — to walk; to step.

égayer (French): to entertain; to brighten up; to have fun, to...

Definitions

  1. to entertain; to brighten up; to have fun, to...

Ancestry of “égayer”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Frenchgaicheerful; merry; gay; homosexual
2Old Frenchgaihappy; cheerful; gay
3Old Occitangaihappy; joyous
4Proto-Germanicganhuzfast, quick
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰengʰ-to walk; to step
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰengʰ- →