Where does “frēo” come from?

frēo (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic *frī, from Proto-Germanic frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós, from Proto-Indo-European preyH- — to love, to please.

frēo (Old English): free, joyful

Definitions

  1. free, joyful

Ancestry of “frēo”, step by step

frēo traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Germanic *frī

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanic*frī
2Proto-Germanicfrijazfree
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanpriHósdear, beloved; happy, free
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanpreyH-to love, to please

via Proto-West Germanic *friu

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-West Germanic*friu

Words derived from “frēo

Every word from Proto-Indo-European preyH-Every word from Proto-Indo-European priHósEvery word from Proto-Germanic frijaz