Where does “Great” come from?

Great (Scots) comes from Middle English grete, from Old English grēat, from Proto-West Germanic graut, from Proto-Germanic grautaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- — to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines.

Great (Scots): great

Definitions

  1. great

Ancestry of “Great”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgretegreat; massive; amazing
2Old Englishgrēatgreat, large; big, thick, coarse, massive
3Proto-West Germanicgraut—
4Proto-Germanicgrautazcoarse, crude; big, large
5Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰer-to yearn for; to enclose; bowels, intestines
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer- →Every word from Proto-Germanic grautaz →Every word from Proto-West Germanic graut →
Great — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer