frame

frame · verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*promo-“front, forward”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*framjaną“to further, promote, perform”
3. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*frammjan
4. Old English · inherited fromframian
5. Middle English · inherited fromframen
6. English todayframe

From Middle English framen, fremen, fremmen (“to construct, build, strengthen, refresh, perform, execute, profit, avail”), from Old English framian, fremian, fremman (“to profit, avail, advance”), from Proto-West Germanic *frammjan, from Proto-Germanic *framjaną (“to further, promote, perform”), from Proto-Indo-European *promo- (“front, forward”). Cognate with Low German framen (“to commit, effect”), Danish fremme (“to promote, further, perform”), Swedish främja (“to promote, encourage, foster”), Icelandic fremja (“to commit”). More at from.

frame · noun²

1. Old Norse · derived fromframi“advantage, fame, bravery, efficiency, privilege, honor”
2. Middle English · inherited fromframe“profit, benefit, advantage; a structure composed according to a plan”
3. English todayframe

From Middle English frame (“profit, benefit, advantage; a structure composed according to a plan”), from the verb (above) and also from Old Norse frami (“advantage, fame, bravery, efficiency, privilege, honor”); and frame (“a framework or structure of any kind”) which is of uncertain origin. The latter is usually regarded as a derivative of former; however, compare the rare Anglo-Norman and Old French frame, fraine (“frame, framework”), itself of uncertain origin, which might be a borrowing from the English, from the Norse, or even possibly ultimately from Frankish *hramu (“frame”) related to Dutch raam (“window frame”).

Words from the same roots