Where does “fraien” come from?
fraien (Middle English) comes from Middle English affraien, from Anglo-Norman afrayer, from Old French effreer, from Vulgar Latin exfridare, from Vulgar Latin *exfrido, from Frankish friþu, from Proto-Germanic friþuz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós — to love, to please.
Ancestry of “fraien”, step by step
fraien traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English affraien
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | affraien | To frighten |
| 2 | Anglo-Norman | afrayer | to terrify, disquiet, disturb; Alternative form... |
| 3 | Old French | effreer | — |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | exfridare | — |
| 5 | Vulgar Latin | *exfrido | — |
| 6 | Frankish | friþu | peace, sanctuary; security, peace; peace |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | friþuz | peace, tranquility; sanctuary, refuge |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | priHós | dear, beloved; happy, free |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | preyH- | to love, to please |