root

root · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*wréh₂ds“root”
2. Proto-Germanic · derived from*wrōts“root”
3. Old Norse · derived fromrót“root”
4. Old English · inherited fromrōt
5. Middle English · inherited fromrote
6. English todayroot

PIE word *wréh₂ds From Middle English rote, root, roote (“the underground part of a plant”), from late Old English rōt, from Old Norse rót (“root”), from Proto-Germanic *wrōts (“root”), from Proto-Indo-European *wréh₂ds (“root”); Doublet of wort, radish, and radix. Cognate with Scots ruit, rute (“root”), Danish rod (“root”), Faroese and Icelandic rót (“root”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish rot (“root”).

root · verb, noun²

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*wrōtaną“to dig out, to root”
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*wrōtan
3. Old English · inherited fromwrōtan
4. Middle English · inherited fromwrōten“to dig with the snout”
5. English todayroot

From Middle English wrōten (“to dig with the snout”), from Old English wrōtan, from Proto-West Germanic *wrōtan, from Proto-Germanic *wrōtaną (“to dig out, to root”). Related to Old English wrōt (“snout; trunk”). Loss of initial w- probably due to influence from the related noun (Etymology 1).

root · verb³

Possibly an alteration of rout (“to make a loud noise”), influenced by hoot.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• late 19th century To cheer (on); to show support (for) and hope for the success of. (See root for.)