abear

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · inherited from*bʰer-“to bear, carry”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*uzberaną“to bear off, bring forth, produce”
3. Old English · inherited fromāberan“to bear, carry, carry away”
4. Middle English · inherited fromaberen
5. English todayabear

From Middle English aberen, from Old English āberan (“to bear, carry, carry away”), from ā- (“away, out”), a- + beran (“to bear”), from Proto-Germanic *uzberaną (“to bear off, bring forth, produce”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to bear, carry”), equivalent to a- + bear. Cognate with Old High German irberan, Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌱𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌰𐌽 (usbairan).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 9th c. To put up with; to endure; to bear.
• 10th–15th c. To bear; to carry.
• 16th–17th c. To behave; to comport oneself.
• 14th–17th c. Bearing, behavior.