Where does “born” come from?
born (Middle English) comes from Old English boren, from Old English beran, from Proto-West Germanic beran, from Proto-Germanic beraną, from Proto-Indo-European bʰéreti, from Proto-Indo-European bʰēr- — shiny, light brown.
Ancestry of “born”, step by step
born traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English boren
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | boren | past participle of beran; born |
| 2 | Old English | beran | to carry, bear; to wear; to sustain, support |
| 3 | Proto-West Germanic | beran | to carry, to bear |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | beraną | to carry, to bear |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰéreti | to be carrying |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰēr- | shiny, light brown |