Where does “mildewe” come from?
mildewe (Middle English) comes from Old English meledeaw, from Proto-Germanic milidawwaz, from Proto-Germanic dawwaz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.
Ancestry of “mildewe”, step by step
mildewe traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English meledeaw
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | meledeaw | honeydew, nectar |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | milidawwaz | mildew |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | dawwaz | moisture; dew |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dʰewh₂- | smoke; mist, haze |