Where does “chérir” come from?
chérir (French) comes from French cher, from Middle French cher, from Old French cher, from Latin cārus, from Proto-Italic kāros, from Proto-Indo-European kéh₂ros, from Proto-Indo-European keh₂- — to desire, wish.
chérir (French): to cherish
Ancestry of “chérir”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | French | cher | dear; expensive; dearly |
| 2 | Middle French | cher | — |
| 3 | Old French | cher | Alternative form of chier |
| 4 | Latin | cārus | — |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | kāros | dear |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | kéh₂ros | loved; dear |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | keh₂- | to desire, wish |