Etymology Explorer › Middle English

Where does “steem” come from?

steem (Middle English) comes from Old English stēam, from Proto-Germanic staumaz, from Proto-Indo-European dʰew- — to die, pass away; to run, flow.

Ancestry of “steem”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishstēamsteam, hot exhalation, hot breath; that which...
2Proto-Germanicstaumazsteam, vapour
3Proto-Indo-Europeandʰew-to die, pass away; to run, flow

Words derived from “steem”

  • steam
  • steamer
  • steaming
  • steamboat
  • steamship
  • steamy
  • steamroller
  • steamboating
  • steamroll
  • steamboatman
  • steampipe
  • steampunk
  • steamfitter
  • steamtight
  • steaminess
  • steamfitting
  • steamless
  • steamily
  • steamingly
  • steamlike
  • steamway
  • steamie
  • steamable
  • steamboater
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰew- →