Where does “betan” come from?

betan (Swedish) comes from Proto-Germanic *bōtijan, from Proto-Germanic bōtijaną, from Proto-Germanic bōtō, from Proto-Indo-European bʰed- — to improve, make better.

Definitions

Ancestry of “betan”, step by step

betan traces back through 3 separate lines of ancestry.

via Proto-Germanic *bōtijan

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanic*bōtijan—
2Proto-Germanicbōtijanąto improve; to compensate
3Proto-Germanicbōtōimprovement, betterment; recompense, atonement
4Proto-Indo-Europeanbʰed-to improve, make better

via Iban tan

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ibantanresistant not easily damaged
2Proto-Malayic*tahən—
3Proto-Malayo-Polynesiantaqansnare trap
4Proto-Austronesiantaqanto hold back; to keep in reserve

via Iban be

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Ibanbe—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European bʰed- →Every word from Proto-Germanic bōtō →Every word from Proto-Germanic bōtijaną →