Etymology Explorer › Scots

Where does “speir” come from?

speir (Scots) comes from Irish spór, from English spore, from New Latin spora, from Ancient Greek σπορά, from Ancient Greek σπείρω, from Proto-Hellenic spéřřō, from Proto-Indo-European spéryeti, from Proto-Indo-European sper- — to fidget, twitch; to push; to be quick; to...

speir (Scots): to ask, inquire; inquiry, investigation; A person...

Definitions

  1. to ask, inquire; inquiry, investigation; A person...

Ancestry of “speir”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Irishspórspore
2EnglishsporeA reproductive particle, usually a single cell,...
3New Latinsporaspore
4Ancient Greekσποράseed
5Ancient GreekσπείρωI sow; nominative/accusative/vocative dual of...
6Proto-Hellenicspéřřō—
7Proto-Indo-Europeanspéryeti—
8Proto-Indo-Europeansper-to fidget, twitch; to push; to be quick; to...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European sper- →