Where does “unbinden” come from?
unbinden (Middle English) comes from Old English unbindan, from Proto-Germanic andabindaną, from Proto-Germanic anda-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent-, from Proto-Indo-European h₂en- — on, onto.
Ancestry of “unbinden”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | unbindan | to unbind |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | andabindaną | to unbind, loosen, set free |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | anda- | against, opposing; un-, de- |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énti | opposite; near; in front |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |