Where does “be” come from?

be (Middle English) comes from Old English bēo, from Proto-Germanic biumi, from Proto-Germanic *beuną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- — to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...

be (Middle English): Alternative form of been; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of been; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “be”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old EnglishbēoI become, I will be, I am; bee
2Proto-Germanicbiumifirst-person singular present active indicative...
3Proto-Germanic*beuną—
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰew-to grow, swell; to swell, wax, grow; to blow; to...

Words derived from “be”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰew- →Every word from Proto-Germanic *beuną →Every word from Proto-Germanic biumi →