Where does “brethen” come from?
brethen (Middle English) comes from Middle English breth, from Old English brǣþ, from Proto-Germanic brēþiz, from Proto-Indo-European bʰrē-t-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰer- — to bear, carry.
brethen (Middle English): to breathe, blow, exhale, odour
Definitions
- to breathe, blow, exhale, odour
Ancestry of “brethen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | breth | breath |
| 2 | Old English | brǣþ | odor, scent, stink, exhalation, vapor |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | brēþiz | vapour; steam; breath; odour, smell |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰrē-t- | exhalation from heat; steam |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰer- | to bear, carry |
Words derived from “brethen”