Where does “beginnan” come from?
beginnan (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic *biginnan, from Proto-Germanic biginnaną, from Proto-Germanic bi-, from Proto-Germanic bi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂m̥bʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂n̥tbʰi, from Proto-Indo-European h₂énts, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ent- — on, onto.
beginnan (Old English): to begin
Definitions
- to begin
Ancestry of “beginnan”, step by step
beginnan traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.
via Proto-West Germanic *biginnan
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-West Germanic | *biginnan | to start, to begin |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | biginnaną | to begin |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | bi- | by, at |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | bi | by, at; near, around |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂m̥bʰi | around, on either side of, about; in exchange... |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂n̥tbʰi | — |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂énts | forehead; front |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ent- | face; forehead; front |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂en- | on, onto |
via Old English ginnan
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old English | ginnan | — |
via Proto-Germanic *biginnan
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | *biginnan | — |