Where does “scathe” come from?
scathe (Middle English) comes from Old English sceaþa, from Proto-Germanic skaþô, from Proto-Indo-European sket- — to injure.
Ancestry of “scathe”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | sceaþa | one who injures; enemy, ravager; warrior; injury |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | skaþô | damage, scathe; one who causes damage; injurer |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | sket- | to injure |
Words derived from “scathe”