Where does “teer” come from?
teer (Middle English) comes from Old English tēar, from Proto-West Germanic tah(h)r, from Proto-Germanic tahrą, from Proto-Indo-European dáḱru-, from Proto-Indo-European dr̥ḱ-h₂eḱru- — eye bitter.
teer (Middle English): Alternative form of tere; Alternative form of...
Definitions
- Alternative form of tere; Alternative form of...
Ancestry of “teer”, step by step
teer traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English tēar
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | tēar | tear (drop of liquid from the tear duct) |
| 2 | Proto-West Germanic | tah(h)r | tear |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | tahrą | tear |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | dáḱru- | tears; tear |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | dr̥ḱ-h₂eḱru- | eye bitter |