Where does “tena” come from?

tena (Norwegian Nynorsk) comes from Old Norse þjóna, from Proto-Germanic þewanōną, from Proto-Indo-European tekʷ- — to run, to flow.

tena (Norwegian Nynorsk): to earn; to serve

Definitions

  1. to earn; to serve

Ancestry of “tena”, step by step

tena traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Old Norse þjóna

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseþjónato serve
2Proto-Germanicþewanōnąto serve
3Proto-Indo-Europeantekʷ-to run, to flow

via Old Norse þéna

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norseþénato serve
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tekʷ- →Every word from Proto-Germanic þewanōną →Every word from Old Norse þjóna →
tena — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer