Where does “clensen” come from?
clensen (Middle English) comes from Old English clǣnsian, from Proto-West Germanic klainisōną, from Proto-Germanic klainiz, from Proto-Indo-European g(e)lēi-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵel- — to swallow; swallow.
Ancestry of “clensen”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | clǣnsian | — |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | klainisōną | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | klainiz | shining, fine, splendid; tender, precious |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | g(e)lēi- | gleaming |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | ǵel- | to swallow; swallow |