Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “berht” come from?

berht (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic berht, from Proto-Germanic berhtaz, from Proto-Germanic hrabnaz, from Proto-Indo-European ḱorh₂-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱer-, from Proto-Indo-European kr̥-, from Proto-Indo-European ker- — army.

berht (Old English): bright

Definitions

  1. bright

Ancestry of “berht”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanicberhtbright
2Proto-Germanicberhtazbright, shining
3Proto-Germanichrabnazraven
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱorh₂-—
5Proto-Indo-Europeanḱer-to grow, to make grow, to nourish; to plait,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeankr̥-to turn, to bend
7Proto-Indo-Europeanker-army

Words derived from “berht”

  • bright
  • brighten
  • eyebright
  • overbright
  • brightwork
  • brightener
  • brightish
  • brightsome
  • superbright
  • ultrabright
  • brighteneth
  • unbright
  • brightenest
  • brightsomeness
  • brightsmith
  • night-bright
  • bright
  • bryht
  • bræt
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ker- →