Where does “free” come from?

free (Low German) comes from Middle Low German vrîe, from Old Saxon frī, from Proto-West Germanic frī, from Proto-Germanic frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós, from Proto-Indo-European preyH- — to love, to please.

free (Low German): free

Definitions

  1. free

Ancestry of “free”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Low Germanvrîe—
2Old Saxonfrīfree
3Proto-West Germanicfrīfree
4Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
5Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please
Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European priHós →Every word from Proto-Germanic frijaz →