Where does “ценнейший” come from?

ценнейший (Russian) comes from Russian це́нный, from Russian цена́, from Old East Slavic цѣна, from Proto-Slavic cěna, from Proto-Balto-Slavic kainā́ˀ, from Proto-Indo-European kʷoynéh₂, from Proto-Indo-European kʷey- — to pay; to avenge.

ценнейший (Russian): most valuable, most precious, costliest

Definitions

  1. most valuable, most precious, costliest

Ancestry of “ценнейший”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Russianце́нныйvaluable, precious, costly, dear
2Russianцена́price, cost
3Old East Slavicцѣна—
4Proto-Slaviccěnaprice; value
5Proto-Balto-Slavickainā́ˀprice
6Proto-Indo-Europeankʷoynéh₂payment; punishment, vengeance
7Proto-Indo-Europeankʷey-to pay; to avenge
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷey- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European kʷoynéh₂ →Every word from Proto-Balto-Slavic kainā́ˀ →