Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “ferne” come from?

ferne (Middle English) comes from Old English feorran, from Old English feorr, from Proto-Germanic ferrai, from Proto-Indo-European per-nóy, from Proto-Indo-European per-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós — passed , crossed.

ferne (Middle English): distant, far-off

Definitions

  1. distant, far-off

Ancestry of “ferne”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishfeorranfrom far away; to remove, withdraw
2Old Englishfeorrfar; distant; far back; far; at a distance
3Proto-Germanicferraifar, distant
4Proto-Indo-Europeanper-nóy—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “ferne”

  • fern
  • ferny
  • fernery
  • fernlike
  • ferning
  • fernroot
  • fernowl
  • woodfern
  • fernland
  • fernbird
  • fernless
  • nonfern
  • Christmas fern
  • hardfern
  • ferndom
  • เฟิร์น
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →