Where does “frain” come from?
frain (Middle English) comes from Old English fræġn, from Old English friġnan, from Proto-Germanic frehnaną, from Proto-Indo-European preḱ-, from Proto-Indo-European pr̥ḱneh₂.
frain (Middle English): question
Definitions
- question
Ancestry of “frain”, step by step
frain traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English fræġn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | fræġn | question |
| 2 | Old English | friġnan | to inquire, ask; to ask, inquire, learn |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | frehnaną | to ask, inquire |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | preḱ- | to ask |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | pr̥ḱneh₂ | — |
via Old English freġn
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | freġn | — |