Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “drery” come from?

drery (Middle English) comes from Old English drēoriġ, from Proto-Germanic dreuzagaz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰreus- — to break, break off, crumble.

drery (Middle English): Experiencing sadness; glum, unhappy; Showing...

Definitions

  1. Experiencing sadness; glum, unhappy; Showing...

Ancestry of “drery”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishdrēoriġsad
2Proto-Germanicdreuzagazbloody; gory; sad
3Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreus-to break, break off, crumble

Words derived from “drery”

  • dreary
  • drear
  • drearisome
  • dreariment
  • drearihood
  • drearihead
  • drearing
  • drearsome
  • dreryhed
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰreus- →