Where does “тьма” come from?

тьма (Russian) comes from Old East Slavic тьма, from Proto-Slavic tьmà, from Proto-Balto-Slavic timāˀ, from Proto-Indo-European tēmH- — dark.

тьма (Russian): dark, darkness; thousands, a multitude, a host,...

Definitions

  1. dark, darkness; thousands, a multitude, a host,...

Ancestry of “тьма”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old East Slavicтьмаdarkness
2Proto-Slavictьmàdark, darkness
3Proto-Balto-Slavictimāˀdarkness
4Proto-Indo-EuropeantēmH-dark
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tēmH-Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic timāˀEvery word from Proto-Slavic tьmà
тьма — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer