Where does “fri” come from?
fri (Old Saxon) comes from Proto-West Germanic frī, from Proto-Germanic frijaz, from Proto-Indo-European priHós, from Proto-Indo-European preyH- — to love, to please.
fri (Old Saxon): free
Definitions
- free
Ancestry of “fri”, step by step
fri 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 frijō
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Germanic | frijō | loved one, spouse, wife |