Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “drifan” come from?

drifan (Old English) comes from Proto-West Germanic drīban, from Proto-Germanic drībaną, from Proto-Indo-European dʰreybʰ-, from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- — to support; to hold.

drifan (Old English): to drive, force, move, chase, hunt, follow up,...

Definitions

  1. to drive, force, move, chase, hunt, follow up,...

Ancestry of “drifan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanicdrībanto drive, to push, to compel to go
2Proto-Germanicdrībanąto drive, push, compel to go
3Proto-Indo-Europeandʰreybʰ-to drive, push
4Proto-Indo-Europeandʰer-to support; to hold

Words derived from “drifan”

  • drive
  • driven
  • driveway
  • driveth
  • overdriven
  • driveshaft
  • drivetrain
  • hyperdrive
  • driveline
  • drivenness
  • undriven
  • drivest
  • microdrive
  • stardrive
  • driveable
  • drivetime
  • underdrive
  • sterndrive
  • wardriver
  • wardrive
  • driveaway
  • multidrive
  • redrive
  • nondriven
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰer- →