Where does “der” come from?
der (Middle English) comes from Old English dēor, from Proto-West Germanic deuʀ, from Proto-Germanic deuzą, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewsóm, from Proto-Indo-European dʰéws, from Proto-Indo-European dʰwes- — to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature.
Ancestry of “der”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | dēor | animal, beast |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | deuʀ | animal, beast |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | deuzą | animal, beast |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewsóm | living thing |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰéws | breath |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰwes- | to breathe; breath; spirit, soul > creature |