Where does “need” come from?

need (Middle English) comes from Old English nēod, from Proto-West Germanic *niudi, from Proto-Indo-European newdʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European new- — new; to nod, assent to.

Ancestry of “need”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishnēoddesire, eagerness, earnest; desire, longing; need
2Proto-West Germanic*niudidesire, eagerness
3Proto-Indo-Europeannewdʰ-seeking, need
4Proto-Indo-Europeannew-new; to nod, assent to

Words derived from “need”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European new- →