speaking

speaking · adjective¹

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*sprekaną“to speak”
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*sprekandz“speaking”
3. Old English · inherited fromspecende
4. Middle English · inherited fromspekinge
5. English todayspeaking

From Middle English spekinge, spekynge, spekinde, spekende, spekande, spekand, from Old English specende, sprecende (“speaking”), from Proto-Germanic *sprekandz (“speaking”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *sprekaną (“to speak”). Equivalent to speak + -ing. Cognate with Scots speikand, speikin (“speaking”), Saterland Frisian spreekend (“speaking”), West Frisian sprekkend (“speaking”), Dutch sprekend (“speaking”), German Low German sprekend (“speaking”), German sprechend (“speaking”).

speaking · noun²

1. Middle English · inherited fromspeking
2. English todayspeaking

From Middle English speking, spekynge, equivalent to speak + -ing.

speaking · verb, interjection³

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Words from the same roots