Where does “frī” come from?
frī (Old High German) comes from Proto-West Germanic frī, from Proto-Germanic frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós, from Proto-Indo-European preyH- — to love, to please.
frī (Old High German): free
Definitions
- free
Ancestry of “frī”, step by step
frī traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Proto-West Germanic frī
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-West Germanic | frī | free |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | frijaz | free |
| 3 | Proto-Indo-European | priHós | dear, beloved; happy, free |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | preyH- | to love, to please |
via Proto-Germanic *frī
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | *frī | — |