Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “hēdan” come from?

hēdan (Old English) comes from Old Norse héðan, from Old Norse hér, from Proto-Germanic hē₂r, from Proto-Indo-European ḱe, from Middle English kyt, from German kitt, from Old High German kuti, from Proto-West Germanic kwidu — to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

hēdan (Old English): to heed, take care, observe, attend, guard, take...

Definitions

  1. to heed, take care, observe, attend, guard, take...

Ancestry of “hēdan”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Norsehéðanhence
2Old Norsehérhere
3Proto-Germanichē₂rhere, in this place
4Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
5Middle Englishkyt—
6Germankitt—
7Old High Germankuti—
8Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
9Proto-Germanickweduzresin
10Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak
11Proto-Indo-Europeangū-to bend; curve; arch; vault; to bow, bend, arch,...

Words derived from “hēdan”

  • heed
  • heedless
  • heeding
  • unheeding
  • heedlessly
  • heedlessness
  • heedful
  • heedfully
  • unheedful
  • unheedingly
  • heedeth
  • heedfulness
  • heedest
  • unheedy
  • unheed
  • unheedfully
  • heedy
  • unheedfulness
  • heedily
  • heeder
  • unheediness
  • heediness
  • heedworthy
  • unheedily
Every word from Proto-Indo-European gū- →