Where does “riven” come from?
riven (Middle English) comes from Old Norse rífa, from Proto-Germanic rīfaną, from Proto-Indo-European rēy- — thing; possession; to regulate, count; to count,...
riven (Middle English): to rive
Ancestry of “riven”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old Norse | rífa | to tear apart; to tear, break; to pick, scratch,... |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | rīfaną | to tear, rend |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | rēy- | thing; possession; to regulate, count; to count,... |
Words derived from “riven”