Where does “riein” come from?
riein (Middle Welsh) comes from Proto-Brythonic rriɣėn, from Proto-Celtic rīganī, from Proto-Indo-European h₃rḗǵnih₂, from Proto-Indo-European h₃rḗǵs, from Proto-Indo-European h₃reǵ- — to straighten, to right oneself; right; just.
Ancestry of “riein”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Proto-Brythonic | rriɣėn | queen |
| 2 | Proto-Celtic | rīganī | queen |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵnih₂ | queen |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃rḗǵs | king, ruler |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃reǵ- | to straighten, to right oneself; right; just |