Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “greten” come from?

greten (Middle English) comes from Old English grētan, from Proto-West Germanic grōtijan, from Proto-Germanic grōtijaną, from Proto-Germanic grētaną, from Proto-Indo-European gʰrēw-, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

greten (Middle English): to weep

Definitions

  1. to weep

Ancestry of “greten”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishgrētan—
2Proto-West Germanicgrōtijanto address, to greet
3Proto-Germanicgrōtijanąto cause to weep; make cry; to scold; to address
4Proto-Germanicgrētanąto weep, to cry
5Proto-Indo-Europeangʰrēw-to grind, rub
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines

Words derived from “greten”

  • begreten
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →