Where does “root” come from?

root (Middle English) comes from Old English rōt, from Old Norse rót, from Proto-Germanic wrōts, from Proto-Indo-European wréh₂ds — root.

root (Middle English): Alternative form of rote; Alternative form of...

Definitions

  1. Alternative form of rote; Alternative form of...

Ancestry of “root”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishrōtglad, cheerful
2Old Norserótroot
3Proto-Germanicwrōtsroot
4Proto-Indo-Europeanwréh₂dsroot
Every word from Proto-Indo-European wréh₂ds →Every word from Proto-Germanic wrōts →Every word from Old Norse rót →