Where does “fathome” come from?
fathome (Middle English) comes from Old English fæþm, from Proto-Germanic *faþm, from Proto-Germanic faþmaz, from Proto-Indo-European pat- — to feed; path; to go.
Ancestry of “fathome”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | fæþm | the outstretched arms; embrace, bosom;... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | *faþm | — |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | faþmaz | outstretched arms; embrace; fathom |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | pat- | to feed; path; to go |
Words derived from “fathome”