Where does “hercian” come from?
hercian (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic hauzakōną, from Proto-Germanic hauzijaną, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ḱh₂owsyéti, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ṓws, from Proto-Indo-European h₂ew- — to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be...
Ancestry of “hercian”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | hauzakōną | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | hauzijaną | to hear |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ḱh₂owsyéti | to be sharp-eared, to hear well |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ṓws | ear |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂ew- | to enjoy; to consume; to perceive, see, to be... |