burden

burden · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*bʰer-“to carry, bear”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*burþį̄
3. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*burþini
4. Old English · inherited frombyrden
5. Middle English · inherited frombirthene
6. English todayburden

Inherited from Middle English birthene, birthen, birden, from Old English byrden, byrþen, from Proto-West Germanic *burþini, from *burþī, from Proto-Germanic *burþį̄, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰer- (“to carry, bear”).

burden · noun²

1. Medieval Latin · derived fromburdō
2. Old French · derived frombordon“drone”
3. Middle English · inherited fromburdoun“accompaniment”
4. English todayburden

Inherited from Middle English burdoun (“accompaniment”), from Old French bordon (“drone”), from Medieval Latin burdō. Doublet of bourdon.

Words from the same roots