Where does “thew” come from?
thew (Middle English) comes from Old English þēow, from Proto-Germanic þewaz, from Proto-Indo-European tekwos, from Proto-Indo-European tekʷ- — to run, to flow.
thew (Middle English): thrall
Definitions
- thrall
Ancestry of “thew”, step by step
thew traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old English þēow
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | þēow | servant; servant; minister; slave |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | þewaz | slave, servant |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | tekwos | runner |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | tekʷ- | to run, to flow |
via Old English þēo
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | þēo | servant, slave; servile, not free, bond |