Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “snare” come from?

snare (Middle English) comes from Old English sneare, from Proto-Germanic snarhǭ, from Proto-Indo-European (s)nerk-, from Proto-Indo-European (s)ner- — to wrap; wind; lace; shrink; shrivel; turn, bend,...

Ancestry of “snare”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishsnearea string; cord
2Proto-Germanicsnarhǭloop; sling; noose
3Proto-Indo-European(s)nerk-to turn; wind; lace; shrink; shrivel
4Proto-Indo-European(s)ner-to wrap; wind; lace; shrink; shrivel; turn, bend,...

Words derived from “snare”

  • snare
  • ensnare
  • ensnarement
  • insnare
  • snarer
  • ensnarer
  • ensnareth
  • snary
  • unsnare
  • insnarer
  • ensnarest
  • snarelike
  • microsnare
Every word from Proto-Indo-European (s)ner- →